Long Island Parents of Overdose Victims Call for Passage of 911 Good Samaritan Law
Parents who have lost children to drug overdoses joined with LICADD last Thursday to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation (A.08147A/S.05191A) sponsored by NYS Senator Tom Duane (D-Manhattan) and NYS Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) otherwise known as the “911 Good Samaritan Bill.” Parents and recovering young adults shared their personal stories of losing children and friends to overdose simply because their companions were afraid to call for help.
Teri Kroll from Copiague, who lost her 23-year-old son Timothy last October to a drug overdose stated, “Saving a life should never be a criminal offense.”
Kevin S., 21 and now in recovery from drug abuse, recounted how he was left for dead following an overdose, abandoned by his friends, who feared arrest. He was found alone, unconscious in a deserted school yard and was given medical assistance. He calls himself one of the “lucky ones” as most needlessly die alone.
Edward Balzer and his wife Cindy, who lost their son to an overdose last October, pleaded with lawmakers to pass 911 Good Samaritan legislation. “We can’t wait for the next legislative session,” said Mr. Balzer. “Summer is here and we need to do all we can to ensure that our sons and daughters do not die senseless deaths. We owe our children more than to just let them die, when a drug overdose can be easily prevented.”
This measure will provide limited immunity from prosecution for possession of small amounts of drugs or alcohol for those who call for medical assistance for themselves or someone else in the event of an overdose. Overdose deaths generally don’t happen spontaneously and instead occur 1-3 hours after ingestion or injection of drugs. Young people, afraid to call the police because they are impaired or have drugs or alcohol in their possession, often delay seeking help and try ineffective and dangerous methods to revive the overdose victim. Many witnesses flee, and without competent and timely medical care, the patient dies.
LICADD’s Executive Director, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds stated, “we are losing a staggering number of our children, neighbors and friends to overdoses on Long Island – about 1 per day. Most overdose deaths are preventable and given the opiate crisis in our region, Long Island’s lawmakers need to take the lead in getting this bill done. The families of overdose victims have spoken loud and clear; let’s hope the NYS Senate and Assembly respond accordingly.”
A link to the Long Island Press story is here.
