New law aims to reduce drug deaths by encouraging people to report overdoses
OTTAWA — A new federal law aims to reduce the number of people who die from opioid and other drug overdoses in Canada.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act was introduced as a private member’s bill last year by Liberal backbencher Ron McKinnon and received royal assent on Thursday.
The law provides immunity from simple possession charges for anyone calling 911 to report an overdose.
McKinnon said he was spurred to action by an epidemic of opioid overdoses in his home province of British Columbia and the rising number of deaths in Alberta and other provinces.