WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Samaritan Efforts to Ensure Key Health Emergency and Life-saving Protections Act (SEEK HELP Act), a bipartisan bill that would provide limited legal protections to individuals who administer naloxone or other FDA-approved opioid reversal drugs to save a life in the event of an overdose. The bill also directs federal government resources towards raising public awareness about these life-saving protections.
Drug overdose deaths in our nation have continued to soar to unprecedented levels, exceeding 112,000 for the first time within a 12-month span in 2023. Research has shown fear of police involvement and the possibility of facing criminal charges is cited as one of the most common reasons people avoid calling 9-1-1 to get assistance when they experience or witness a drug overdose. To address this problem, over 40 states have enacted Good Samaritan laws to provide limited criminal immunity to those who call emergency assistance to save an overdose victim. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), these laws have been effective in curbing overdose deaths, but their impact is limited due to lack of public awareness. There is currently no federal Good Samaritan statute or substantial government investment in raising awareness about these laws.
The SEEK HELP Act would fill this void and bring our nation one step closer to ensuring that no American dies simply because they or their loved ones are afraid to seek help.
“The drug overdose crisis is ravaging communities across the nation, and far too many Americans have lost their lives as a tragic consequence. We can and must do more," said Senator Booker. "I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to help combat this crisis, protect those seeking to help others, and ultimately save more lives."
“In 2022 alone, about 1,400 Louisianians lost their lives to opioid overdoses,” said Senator Kennedy. “The SEEK Help Act would get more Americans the life-saving treatment they need when they fall victim to an opioid overdose, and the Senate should pass it immediately.”
“The SEEK HELP Act expands public health and community oriented approaches to preventing drug overdose. I’m grateful to my colleagues, Senators Booker and Kennedy, for attacking the opioid crisis head-on with me. This legislation is critical to our communities who have suffered because of illicit fentanyl and opioids. I am proud to lead with strategies that will build community trust and ensure people receive urgent services during overdose,” said Senator Markey.
The SEEK HELP Act would:
The SEEK HELP Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Americans for Prosperity, Association of Prosecution Attorneys, Due Process Institute, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, National District Attorneys Association, R Street Institute, and Vera Institute.
"The SEEK HELP Act is a significant stride in our battle against the opioid epidemic," said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association. "With its provision of legal protections during overdose situations and efforts to raise awareness of Good Samaritan Laws, this legislation not only saves lives but also strengthens trust between law enforcement and communities. Ultimately, the SEEK HELP Act enhances public safety and fosters healthier, more resilient communities."
“By raising public awareness of Good Samaritan laws and preventing any hesitation in using life-saving medical services, The SEEK HELP Act would prevent overdose deaths and increase community safety,” said David LaBahn, President of the Association for Prosecuting Attorneys. “This furthers our mission to help prosecutors create safer communities through a more just and equitable legal system."
"Over a hundred thousand Americans are dying each year from a drug overdose. We must explore innovative policies that save lives and reduce the use of illicit substances in our country," said Greg Glod, Policy Fellow at Americans for Prosperity. "Good Samaritan laws have shown great promise at reducing drug overdose deaths in the 48 states that have them in place. The SEEK HELP Act is an example of commonsense federal legislation that can save lives and empower our hard-working law enforcement officers and prosecutors to focus on threats to public safety."
“When someone calls 911 to save another person’s life during a drug overdose, they should expect immediate help—not prosecution and potential jail or prison time,” said Marta Nelson, Director of Sentencing Reform at the Vera Institute of Justice. “The drug crisis in our country is a consequence of failing to implement the right approach by continuing to criminalize and punish people experiencing addiction. Instead, we should incentivize people who witness or experience an overdose to reach out for help without fear of criminal or civil consequences, as the SEEK HELP Act does. We should also invest our resources in more access to treatment, overdose prevention centers, and fentanyl test strips. With this approach, we can work to prevent another year of more than 100,000 deaths from overdose in this country”
“The R Street Institute supports the SEEK HELP Act in its efforts to increase the public’s awareness of Good Samaritan laws and are encouraged by the bill's inclusion of federal immunity protections,” Mazen Saleh, Policy Director, Integrated Harm Reduction at R Street Institute. “We hope state laws follow suit. Immunity should be the default, not the exception."
To read the full text of the bill, click here.