The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call 9-1-1 for help.
The act can protect you from:
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. The act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.
The act does not provide legal protection against more serious offences, such as:
For more information, visit Health Canada's webpage describing the Act.
The act can protect you from:
- Charges for possession of a controlled substance (i.e. drugs) under section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
- Breach of conditions regarding simple possession of controlled substances (i.e. drugs) in:
- pre-trial release
- probation orders
- conditional sentences
- parole
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. The act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.
The act does not provide legal protection against more serious offences, such as:
- outstanding warrants
- production and trafficking of controlled substances
- all other crimes not outlined within the act
For more information, visit Health Canada's webpage describing the Act.