December 27, 2021
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MSP reminds residents of state's Good Samaritan law following rise in overdoses - UpNorthLive.com

FILE - This Aug. 29, 2018, file photo shows an arrangement of Oxycodone pills in New York. The three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion settlement covering thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids across the U.S., two people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press. The settlement involving AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson is expected this week. A $1 billion-plus deal involving the three distributors and the state of New York was planned for Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
FILE - This Aug. 29, 2018, file photo shows an arrangement of Oxycodone pills in New York. The three biggest U.S. drug distribution companies and the drugmaker Johnson & Johnson are on the verge of a $26 billion settlement covering thousands of lawsuits over the toll of opioids across the U.S., two people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press. The settlement involving AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson is expected this week. A $1 billion-plus deal involving the three distributors and the state of New York was planned for Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan State Police are reminding people about a state law that could potentially save lives.

Michigan's Good Samaritan law prevents drug possession charges against those who need medical assistance for an overdose.

Michigan State Police Public Information Officer Lt. Derrick Carroll said northern Michigan had a 48% increase in overdose fatalities in 2020.

There were 11 more overdose deaths in Manistee County than in 2019.

Grand Traverse County saw five more deaths in 2020, and Charlevoix County had four more overdose deaths in 2020 than the previous year.

The staggering statistics are why police want to get the word out about this law.

"It's important to take away the fear for people to think, ‘oh my gosh, if I call and tell them we were using this drug together, I was using this drug heroin, fentanyl, whatever, and I’m going to face criminal charges but I feel like something's wrong,’” Carroll said. “We got to get that thought out of your mind. First and foremost, we want human life to be the number priority here and to help everyone in the community.”

Police are also reminding people about its “Angel Program.”

The program allows people struggling with substance use to walk into any state police post and troopers will get you the help you need.



source: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/msp-reminds-residents-of-states-good-samaritan-law-following-rise-in-overdoses

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