Drug Overdoses in Washington: Police Officers’ experiences and the 2010 Good Samaritan Overdose Law

By Dr. Caleb Banta-Green

Approximately two people a day die from a drug overdose in Washington State. Law enforcement routinely encounters drug overdose situations. For instance in 2011, 64% of Seattle Police Department patrol officers reported being at the scene of an opioid overdose in the past year (either heroin or prescription pain relievers). Opioid overdose (heroin or prescription-type e.g. OxyContin or Vicodin) is well suited to intervention because death typically does not occur immediately and can take hours, allowing time for resuscitation. Many episodes are witnessed by others, making timely lifesaving possible.

In too many cases, however, help comes too late. Sometimes response may be delayed because witnesses do not recognize opioid overdose symptoms as life-threatening or fear legal consequences of calling 9-1-1. Rural users may be isolated from effective emergency response, as may those in tribal areas and impoverished urban neighborhoods. ....

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