Will a new ‘Good Samaritan’ law really reduce drug overdose fatalities?

Three New Zealanders die from accidental drug overdoses every week, a toll one lawmaker believes a new 'Good Samaritan' bill could help reduce, The Conversation reports. The Drug Overdose Assistance Protection Legislation Bill, introduced by Green MP Kahurangi Carter, would decriminalize seeking emergency help for an overdose; police couldn't charge low-level drug users at the scene or search for evidence once an ambulance was called. The measure mirrors laws already in place across Canada, parts of the United States, and Australia, though it faces skepticism from some opposition lawmakers. The proposal builds on New Zealand's long track record in harm reduction—the country pioneered needle-exchange programs decades ago and now distributes over three million needles annually—and recently made Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug, available without a prescription through community programs.

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