L.I. Advocates To NY: Pass Good Samaritan Bill

Jeff Reynolds, executive director of Ronkonkoma-based Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) called on the state Thursday to pass the 911 Good Samaritan bill (Amanda Marzullo/Long Island Press)

Considering about one Long Islander per day fatally overdoses on drugs as the heroin epidemic maintains its grip on LI’s youth, Good Samaritans are all the more crucial. But oftentimes drug addicts are more worried about getting arrested than calling 911 to get help when the witness a friend overdose. Many simply run away.

“Their friends are scared they are going to get in trouble,” said Kevin Smith, 21, of Oakdale, a recovering heroin addict who has been clean for six months after overdosing three times. “I have lost numerous amounts of friends.”

To try and reverse this trend, advocates are calling on New York State lawmakers to pass legislation that would protect witnesses to drug and alcohol overdoses from being prosecuted on relatively minor possession charges. The Ronkonkoma-based Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) called on the state Thursday to pass the 911 Good Samaritan bill before more lives are lost.

Click here to read the rest of the article at the Long Island Press.