LICADD Hails Passage of NYS 911 Good Samaritan Act
LICADD Hails Passage of NYS 911 Good Samaritan Act
Measure will help prevent fatal overdoses on Long Island and statewide
Monday, June 20, 2011 – The Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) today hails passage of the NYS 911 Good Samaritan Act by the NYS Legislature. LICADD and a coalition of families personally affected by addiction have worked diligently to raise awareness and urge passage of the 911 Good Samaritan Act to help reduce the number of overdose-related deaths on Long Island and across New York State.
LICADD’s Executive Director, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds stated, “As Long Islanders continue to struggle with addiction at historic levels, we are heartened that the NYS Legislature has passed this important bill, sponsored by Dick Gottfried in the Assembly and Senator John DeFrancisco. Our thanks extend particularly to Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Health Committee Chair Kemp Hannon and the other seven members of our delegation for working to come up with a measure that will encourage those who witness an overdose to call for help, while simultaneously ensuring that drug dealers will be properly prosecuted. The 911 Good Samaritan Act will save lives and now our attention turns to ensuring that the bill becomes law, that implementation is swift and that young people are properly educated about the importance of calling for help in the midst of an overdose. That they can now do so without fear of reprisal puts public health before punishment.”
LICADD and families who have experienced the death of loved ones due to overdose urged lawmakers in Albany and Long Island to pass the 911 Good Samaritan Act that will now 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. Last week, LICADD mounted its final push to win passage of the 911 Good Samaritan Act in the state legislature. The organization’s PUSH members (People United to Stop Heroin on Long Island), volunteers and staff relayed the urgency associated with this bill to lawmakers. Advocates travelled to Albany, made phone calls, wrote letters and bared their souls to the press to address this priority.
Teri Kroll, PUSH Coordintor and mother who lost her son to drug addiction works closely with LICADD and has been an active lobbyist of the bill. Kroll stated, “I’m thankful that lawmakers have realized the severity of the ongoing drug crisis on Long Island and the importance taking action on this bill. By passing this bill, lawmakers have taken one step closer to giving Long Islanders a drug-free tomorrow.” LICADD believes that passage of the 911 Good Samaritan Act will help reduce the overdose-related deaths on Long Island and encourage individuals to seek help in life-threatening situations.
