With a grant award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, ADAI Research Scientist Caleb Banta-Green, PhD, MSW, MPH, and Patricia Kuszler, MD, JD (Charles I. Stone Professor of Law, UW School of Law) will examine the legal intent, implementation and outcomes of the new Washington state law to support intervening in drug overdoses. The law includes a "911 Good Samaritan" component that provides legal immunity from drug possession charges for people who overdose or seek aid for another person’s overdose. It also allows the prescribing of an opioid antidote medicine (naloxone) to drug users and their partners.
Evaluation will be conducted on the development of the legislation and the impact of the law on Seattle area heroin users, bystanders, and police during overdoses as well as the impacts on community health outcomes.
