As the number of opioid-related deaths continues to rise across Canada, new federal legislation is aimed at reducing the number of deaths from overdoses.
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act received royal assent on May 4th after being introduced by Liberal backbencher Ron McKinnon last year.
The law provides immunity from simple possession charges for anyone calling 9-1-1 to report an overdose, as well as an exemption from charges for people who are on a probation order, serving a conditional sentence or who are on parole.
McKinnon, the MP for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, stated that the exemption would not apply to offenses such as drug trafficking or drinking and driving.
McKinnon says people were afraid to ask for help when someone suffers from an overdose because they do not want to be accused of drug possession.
He said there have been cases where people were afraid to call the police or an ambulance to get help when a person overdoses out of fear, she will be charged with possession of drugs. He said that it does not matter if he's a drug addict on the street or a middle-class child at a party. Make a simple phone call to for help could save a life.
Health Canada says that opioid overdoses kill thousands of Canadians of all ages and backgrounds. Philpott said last month that Health Canada wants to publish statistics on overdose deaths but is frustrated by the provinces and territories that have not provided data.
