Capito’s bill seeks to encourage opioid overdose help from Good Samaritans

Bipartisan legislation recently cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) aims to provide more Americans with life-saving treatment during an opioid overdose by enacting certain liability protections for Good Samaritans.

Sen. Capito on April 11 introduced the Samaritan Efforts to Ensure Key Health Emergency and Life-saving Protections (SEEK HELP) Act, S. 4112, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) to provide protections from prosecution for drug possession to individuals who seek medical assistance when witnessing or experiencing an overdose, according to the bill’s text.

“The SEEK HELP Act will help prevent future opioid overdose deaths by changing the law to encourage Good Samaritans to step in and help,” Sen. Capito said. “I will continue to advocate for policies that help fight the opioid crisis at every level and put all West Virginians and Americans on a path to reaching their full potential.”

The legislation would create civil liability protections for individuals who administer an opioid reversal drug and provide criminal immunity to an individual who seeks medical help for someone experiencing an opioid overdose, according to the bill summary provided by Sen. Capito’s staff.

Additionally, S. 4112 would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a public awareness campaign about these liability protections in an effort to encourage more Americans to get medical assistance when experiencing a drug overdose, the summary says.

The measure is under consideration by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.