Alabama
Ala. Code § 20-2-281(b)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 3 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025KNOW YOUR PROTECTIONS / U.S. STATE LAW SOURCES
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Overdose Good Samaritan laws may protect the person calling for help and the person overdosing from some drug charges. Who is covered, which offenses are covered, and what you must do vary by state.
Overdose emergency? Call 911.
Ask for an ambulance. Give the exact location and describe whether the person is responsive and breathing normally. Answer the dispatcher’s questions honestly and follow their instructions. Do not delay emergency care to research a law.
Medical help is the goal. Police may also respond.
Calling 911 does not guarantee a paramedic-only response. The responding agencies depend on local dispatch practices and the circumstances. A Good Samaritan law is not a blanket promise that nobody can be arrested.
Protection from prosecution is not always protection from arrest. Check the source for covered offenses, eligibility, conditions such as staying or cooperating, and exclusions. Warrants, supervision violations, and other charges may fall outside a law’s protection.
Find your state’s source.
51 jurisdictions
Alaska
Alaska Stat. §§ 11.71.311; 12.55.155(d)(19)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 3 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Arizona
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-3423
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 4 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Arkansas
Ark. Code § 20-13-1701 et seq.
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 4 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025California
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11376.5
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 4 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Colorado
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-711
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 5 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Connecticut
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 21a-267(d); 21a-279(d)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 5 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Delaware
Del. Code tit. 16, § 4769
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 7 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025District of Columbia
D.C. Code § 7-403
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 6 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Florida
Fla. Stat. §§ 893.21; 921.0026(2)(n)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 7 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Georgia
Ga. Code Ann. § 16-13-5
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 8 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Hawaii
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 329-43.6
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 8 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Idaho
Idaho Code Ann. § 37-2739C
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 9 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Illinois
720 Ill. Comp. Stat. §§ 646/115; 570/414; 730 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/5-5-3.1(a)(14)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 10 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Indiana
Ind. Code §§ 16-42-27-2(d), (g), (h); 35-38-1-7.1(b)(12)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 11 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Iowa
Iowa Code § 124.418
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 8 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Kansas
Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-2312
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 12 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Kentucky
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 218A.133
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 13 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Louisiana
La. Stat. Ann. § 14:403.10
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 13 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Maine
Me. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 1111-B
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 15 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Maryland
Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 1-210
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 15 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Massachusetts
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94C, § 34A
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 14 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Michigan
Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 333.7403(3); 333.7404(3)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 15 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Minnesota
Minn. Stat. Ann. § 604A.05
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 16 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Mississippi
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-29-149.1
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 17 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Missouri
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 195.205
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 17 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Montana
Mont. Code Ann. § 50-32-609
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 18 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Nebraska
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-472
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 20 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Nevada
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453C.150
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 22 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025New Hampshire
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 318-B:28-b
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 21 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025New Jersey
N.J. Rev. Stat. §§ 2C:35-30; 2C:35-31
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 21 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025New Mexico
N.M. Stat. § 30-31-27.1
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 22 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025New York
N.Y. Penal Law §§ 220.03; 220.78; N.Y. Crim. Proc. Law § 390.40(3)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 23 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025North Carolina
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-96.2
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 19 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025North Dakota
N.D. Cent. Code § 19-03.1-23.4
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 19 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Ohio
Ohio Rev. Code § 2925.11(B)(2)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 23 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Oklahoma
Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 2-413.1
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 24 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Oregon
Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 475.898
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 25 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Pennsylvania
35 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 780-113.7
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 25 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Rhode Island
R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.9-4
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 26 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025South Carolina
S.C. Code Ann. § 44-53-1910 et seq.
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 26 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025South Dakota
S.D. Codified Laws §§ 34-20A-109–113
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 27 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Tennessee
Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-1-156
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 28 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Texas
Tex. Health & Safety Code §§ 481.115–118; 481.119; 481.121; 481.125; 485.031; 483.041
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 29 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Utah
Utah Code §§ 58-37-8(16); 76-3-203.11
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 30 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Vermont
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 4254
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 32 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Virginia
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-251.03
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 31 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Washington
Wash. Rev. Code §§ 69.50.315; 9.94A.535(1)(i)
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 33 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025West Virginia
W. Va. Code §§ 16-47-1–6
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 33 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Wisconsin
Wis. Stat. § 961.443
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 33 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025Wyoming
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-7-1064
Read protections + conditions ↗Survey page 34 · Law as of Dec. 31, 2025County response practices are a separate question.
This page does not verify whether police attend overdose calls in a particular city, county, tribal jurisdiction, or territory. Before an emergency, ask the local EMS agency, health department, or harm-reduction organization about local response practices. In an emergency, call 911.
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