To: The Colorado State House, The Colorado State Senate, and Governor Jared Polis
Eliminate Drug Related Overdose Criminal Charges in Colorado
Our state has found itself in the midst of a heroin epidemic. We must make a law so those who call for medical assistance due to illicit drug overdoses are exempt from criminal prosecution.
Why is this important?
According to the Colorado.Gov website, heroin overdoses in Colorado doubled between 2011 and 2015. It has continued to increase since then. It has gotten so bad that many of us at least know someone who has lost a close friend or family member to a drug overdose. I know several.
When an overdose occurs, it is not an uncommon thing for people to leave and never call for medical attention because they are in fear of what will happen if the police show up. They wonder "Will I go to jail and be charged for the drugs in the house?" among many other rational thoughts about possibly getting in trouble. This is a massive problem as those who should have survived and would have survived if medical attention had been saught end up passing away.
In the past, Colorado had a serious issue with minors dying from alcohol poisoning. They found that many of these deaths happened while drinking with other minors and that the other minors fled because they were afraid of being charged by the police with possession and consumption. To rectify this situation the legislation passed C.R.S. 18-13-122, which exempts a minor and up to two other minors from criminal prosecution when they call for medical assistance for a minor in need of medical assistance from alcohol poisoning.
We absolutely must extend this protection to people of all age with illicit drugs to help prevent deaths by overdose. Those who seek help for another who is in need of medical attention due to illicit drug use should be exempt from criminal prosecution. This would not save all people from overdoses; however, it would save those that are with others that would otherwise be afraid of being charged. People should not die from an overdose simply because the only people that could help them were afraid of the police, the people who are supposed to be there to help and protect others.
Please help us petition the Colorado State legislature and the Governor on this matter.
When an overdose occurs, it is not an uncommon thing for people to leave and never call for medical attention because they are in fear of what will happen if the police show up. They wonder "Will I go to jail and be charged for the drugs in the house?" among many other rational thoughts about possibly getting in trouble. This is a massive problem as those who should have survived and would have survived if medical attention had been saught end up passing away.
In the past, Colorado had a serious issue with minors dying from alcohol poisoning. They found that many of these deaths happened while drinking with other minors and that the other minors fled because they were afraid of being charged by the police with possession and consumption. To rectify this situation the legislation passed C.R.S. 18-13-122, which exempts a minor and up to two other minors from criminal prosecution when they call for medical assistance for a minor in need of medical assistance from alcohol poisoning.
We absolutely must extend this protection to people of all age with illicit drugs to help prevent deaths by overdose. Those who seek help for another who is in need of medical attention due to illicit drug use should be exempt from criminal prosecution. This would not save all people from overdoses; however, it would save those that are with others that would otherwise be afraid of being charged. People should not die from an overdose simply because the only people that could help them were afraid of the police, the people who are supposed to be there to help and protect others.
Please help us petition the Colorado State legislature and the Governor on this matter.