Save a Life

In Maryland, as elsewhere in the nation, deaths from drug overdoses have been increasing steadily. Maryland has implemented a number of strategies to reduce the number of opioid overdoses. Below are a few ways you can help save a life. 

The Good Samaritan Law

Maryland’s Good Samaritan Law protects people assisting in an emergency overdose situation from arrest, as well as prosecution, for certain crimes.

The purpose of the law is to encourage any person, regardless of age, who experiences or observes a medical emergency caused by the ingestion or use of alcohol or other drugs to seek medical assistance without fear of arrest or prosecution for:

• Possessing or using a controlled dangerous substance
• Possessing or using drug paraphernalia
• Providing alcohol to minors

For more information about the Good Samaritan law, visit www.MDDestinationRecovery.org.

Additional resources:

• Download the Good Samaritan Fact Sheet created by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Watch a one-minute video about the law
• Want to share the Good Samaritan Law in your community? Contact us to schedule a presentation for your organization or request materials to share in your community.

One-to-One Support for Loved Ones

One-to-one support for anyone who cares for someone with substance use issues is available through an MCF Family Peer Support Specialist who has personal experience caring for someone with substance use challenges. A Family Peer Support Specialist will listen to your concerns and can help you to:

• Access evaluation, assessment and treatment services
  
• Navigate recovery services and supports
• Understand insurance coverage
• Know your rights as a parent or caregiver
• Connect to other families dealing with similar challenges
• Access mental health services
• Learn about the continuum of services and supports available within your community

Services are provided at no cost to Maryland families.

Naloxone

Naloxone (NARCAN®, EVZIO®) is a prescription medication that safely and effectively reverses an opioid overdose.  Naloxone can be injected into a muscle (intramuscular) or vein (intravenous) or sprayed into the nose (intranasal). Doctors, paramedics, and other healthcare providers have used naloxone for decades. Now many more people in Maryland can get access to naloxone to save a life.

How to Get Naloxone

1. Maryland Overdose Response Program – The Maryland Overdose Response Program (ORP) offers in-person, hands-on training and certification in recognizing and responding to opioid overdose with naloxone. Most ORP trainings are free to attend and also provide naloxone to trainees at no charge. Check the calendar for a training in your area or contact your local health department to learn more.
   
   A statewide standing order is now in effect allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone to ORP certificate holders without a prescription.
   
   Maryland's online training for naloxone is now LIVE. Sign up, complete the training and receive your certification in naloxone TODAY. The training takes roughly 20-25 minutes. Sign up.
   
   
2. Ask your doctor – Maryland law allows any healthcare provider who can prescribe drugs in Maryland (including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dentists and others) to prescribe naloxone to their patients. Your provider can prescribe you naloxone if you are personally at risk for opioid overdose OR if you are likely to witness an overdose and be in a position to respond.

Ideally, in order to combat the opioid overdose epidemic, everyone should be trained in how to administer naloxone and carry a kit with them. At a minimum, anyone who is at risk of encountering a person who is overdosing should be trained. Please consider contacting the Maryland Overdose Response Program to learn about trainings in your area.