Good Samaritan Act Law in Michigan

Good Samaritan Act Law in Michigan

When many people think about the Good Samaritan Act, they think about someone choking and

another person not having to think twice to save him. They know that if they help, any unintentional

harm can’t lead to a lawsuit. While this is the general idea of the Good Samaritan Act, it is extended to

cases of drug overdose.

Under the Good Samaritan Act Law, anyone can seek help for themselves or someone else during a drug

overdose situation. This includes cases in which someone overdoses on heroin.

The medication Naloxone treats drug overdoses and can save people’s lives. The problem is that getting

the medication means admitting someone is on illegal substances, which could lead to prosecution. So

in the past, instead of people seeking the medication in case of overdose, they were running from it.

With heroin killing over 50,000 a year, it’s important that people understand there is help for them and

their loved ones who are addicted to the drug without fear of going to prison.

Treatment vs. Jail

Prior to the Good Samaritan Act Law, heroin addicts suffering from overdose who showed up in

hospitals could be arrested for possession. Now, they are being helped with treatment instead. This is a

much more positive solution than jail, and it can save taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Addiction is a disease, according to many experts. This disease must be treated, like any other disease.

There’s a biological and emotional component in addiction, and that can be helped with psychotropic

medications and therapy.

Substance abuse treatments centers help heroin addicts detox from the drug safely. They then help

stabilize addicts with medication who may have mental illness or other medical disorders that were

masked by the illegal substance. Therapy is available to untangle the emotional/mental dependence of

the drug that makes addicts believe they cannot live life without it.

How MDADS Helps

Keeping those addicted to heroin and other drugs out of prison can be difficult, as the drug wrestles for

control. MDADS helps addicts, loved ones, and the legal system keep drugs from sabotaging any benefits

that have come from the Good Samaritan Act Law in Michigan. When someone is forced into treatment

and then released, it’s important that they remain drug free. Accountability is the biggest factor in this,

and that’s when MDADS steps in with drug and alcohol testing, offender monitoring, and counseling

services.

MDADS provides referral services to its clients to help them follow through with a treatment plan with

success. By offering lab and instant drug testing at our facility that are admissible in court, addicts know

they must remain clean or risk their freedom. Offender monitoring allows probation officers an easy

way to keep track of those on their caseload and reminds those addicted that they are being tracked.

Finally, our counseling services helps addicts and their families understand what addiction is, what it

does, and how to come back from it. It’s what solidifies the treatment received from the rehab center.

Helping Addicts Help Themselves

At MDADS, we’re excited about the new Good Samaritan Act Law in Michigan. We believe this will save

the lives of so many people who struggle with heroin addiction, and give them more hope for a better,

brighter future. Every day, we help people recover from the depths of addiction, and we look forward to

helping so many more as people take advantage of the help of Naloxone without fear of imprisonment.