North Carolina Legal Protections Related to Drug Overdose

The Good Samaritan Law in North Carolina protects people who ask for help from 911, law enforcement, or E.M.S. because they or another person is experiencing a drug overdose. Under this law, people cannot be prosecuted for having small amounts of drugs or items used to take or store drugs (drug paraphernalia) if law enforcement find the drugs or paraphernalia in possession of the caller or of the person who experienced an overdose in response to rendering aid for an overdose. The caller and the person who overdosed also have immunity from underage possession/ consumption of alcohol and violation of probation or parole. People who seek help for someone who is having an overdose must give their own name to 911 or to responding law enforcement to be protected by The Good Samaritan Law.

The Naloxone Access Law in North Carolina also protects people who give naloxone to someone who is having an overdose. If, in good faith, they think the person is having a drug overdose and they use reasonable care to give the naloxone, they are protected from a lawsuit for giving the person naloxone. Reading information on how to give naloxone (like the information here) is one way for them to show that they are using reasonable care.