24:6J-2 Findings, declarations relative to overdose prevention.
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2. The Legislature finds and declares that encouraging people who witness or experience a suspected drug overdose to seek medical assistance saves lives and is in the best interests of the citizens of this State and, in instances where evidence was obtained as a result of seeking of medical assistance, those people who witness or experience a suspected drug overdose should be protected from arrest, charge, prosecution, conviction, and revocation of parole or probation for possession or use of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia.
Additionally, naloxone is a safe, inexpensive, and easily administered antidote to an opioid overdose. Encouraging the wider prescription and distribution of naloxone or similarly acting drugs to those at risk for an opioid overdose, or to members of their families or peers, would reduce the number of opioid overdose deaths and be in the best interests of the citizens of this State. To that end, it is the intent of the Legislature that opioid antidotes be made as easily accessible and as widely available as possible, such that they are readily available at all times to provide treatment to people experiencing a suspected opioid overdose.
It is not the intent of the Legislature to protect individuals from arrest, prosecution or conviction for other criminal offenses, including engaging in drug trafficking, nor is it the intent of the Legislature to in any way modify or restrict the current duty and authority of law enforcement and emergency responders at the scene of a medical emergency or a crime scene, including the authority to investigate and secure the scene.
L.2013, c.46, s.2; amended 2021, c.152, s.1.