A new law aims to help the state of Colorado cut back on overdose deaths from illegal drugs, reports Colorado Public Radio. The bill was signed into law last Thursday by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. Many overdose deaths occur because when a drug user overdoses, the user’s friends don’t always call the paramedics. That’s because they’re afraid they’ll be arrested for holding or consuming illegal drugs. The new measure makes it so that those who call 911 when a friend is overdosing will be shielded from arrest or prosecution.
In a symbolic act, Gov. Hickenlooper signed the bill at Denver’s Harm Reduction Action Center. The center is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the harms associated with drug use.
Hickenlooper said he hopes the law will change the way drug user deal with situations that could otherwise lead to drug-related deaths.
