Expanding Maine’s Good Samaritan Law Will Reduce Overdose-Related Deaths, Save Lives

Last year’s rise in overdose deaths can partly be attributed to an increase in the prevalence of the drug fentanyl. In 2021, 77% of the overdose deaths in Maine were attributed to this synthetic opioid, which is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin.

Additionally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased social isolation, disconnection from community, and an overwhelming demand on mental health support services. Unfortunately, Maine is not unique in experiencing this crisis. According to the National Institutes of Health, one in 10 Americans struggled with substance use disorder at some point in their lives.

Like many of us, my family has also been affected by it. In September, I lost my cousin to an overdose. It was shocking and unexpected. It was heartbreaking. And sadly, my story is not rare or unusual. There were 635 Maine families who went through a similar experience and lost a loved one to an overdose last year, too. And that does not include all the families affected by the approximately 10,000 overdose incidents which were fortunately not fatal.

As a State Representative, I am proud to co-sponsor bipartisan legislation this session to strengthen legal protections for those seeking medical assistance for drug-related overdoses. The bill, LD 1862, would expand the 2019 Good Samaritan Law, which was aimed at protecting individuals who overdose, as well as those who specifically call for help from emergency medical services in response.

LD 1862 will bolster those measures and protect anyone at the scene of an overdose from legal ramifications for non-violent crimes, regardless of whether they are the one calling EMS. We have learned that the current legal protections are insufficient because they are limited to the caller and the individual experiencing the overdose. As a result, other people are inclined to pack up and leave the scene before first responders arrive, for fear of risking legal consequences. Sadly, this was true in the case of my cousin’s overdose. These concerns and fears often lead to a delay in calling EMS, and in some cases, they are not called at all.

First responders are critically important to have at the scene of an overdose because they carry Naloxone, an overdose reversal medication. While members of the public can also access Naloxone and be trained to use it (see Healthy Lincoln County for more information), the presence of medical responders at the scene of a medical crisis increases the chances that the individual will survive.

In conjunction with our local communities, the State of Maine is working hard to strengthen our response to the opioid epidemic. In 2020, Gov. Mills launched the statewide OPTIONS program to reduce drug overdoses through harm reduction strategies. Here in Lincoln County, we’re fortunate to have recovery and prevention programs from LincolnHealth, Mid Coast Hospital, and Healthy Lincoln County, as well as collaborative response services from local law enforcement and community providers.

In the face of loss and grief, I hope we can pass LD 1862 with bipartisan support. Expanding our existing Good Samaritan Law will do more than just reduce a statistic – it will save the lives of countless Mainers.

If you would like to submit testimony in support of this legislation, please feel free to reach out to me at lydia.crafts@legislature.maine.gov.

If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, please call the Addiction Resource Center at Mid Coast Hospital at 563-2311.

~Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle
HD90: Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Monhegan, Newcastle, part of Nobleboro, and part of South Bristol