The State of Kansas has made a new law in an effort to save lives. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 419 into law Thursday. It assures Kansans can call for medical help if someone is having an emergency because of drugs without the fear of facing legal consequences for drug use or possession. The bill has backing from law enforcement agencies in Kansas.
Kansas is the 49th state to have some type of Good Samaritan law related to drug overdoses. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, these laws are linked to lower rates of overdose deaths from opioids. They also report an increased likelihood of someone calling for help if they are aware of the laws.