Good Samaritan Laws in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania

Someone is overdosing. You know you should call 911. But you're scared — you're using too, you have drugs on you, or you're on probation. So you hesitate. Maybe you wait too long. Maybe you don't call at all.

This fear is one reason Good Samaritan laws exist. In Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, state laws may limit certain drug-related charges when a person seeks emergency help in good faith. Their requirements, exceptions, and interpretation can change.

This post provides a general overview, not legal advice. Do not rely on it to predict whether a specific person will be arrested, charged, or prosecuted. During a suspected overdose, call 911 and follow the dispatcher's instructions.

What Is a Good Samaritan Law?

Good Samaritan laws (also called "911 Good Samaritan laws" or "overdose immunity laws") provide limited legal protection to people who:

• Call 911 or seek emergency medical help during a drug or alcohol overdose
• Remain at the scene until help arrives
• Cooperate with emergency responders

The goal is simple: remove the fear of arrest that stops people from calling for help when someone is dying.

These laws typically protect both the person overdosing and the person calling for help from prosecution for simple drug possession. They do not provide blanket immunity for all crimes — just specific drug-related charges.

Research consistently shows that overdose fatality rates drop in states with Good Samaritan laws, because more people call 911 when it matters most.

Virginia's Good Samaritan Law

Virginia's law (Virginia Code § 18.2-251.03) protects you from prosecution for possession of a controlled substance or marijuana if you:

• Seek medical attention for yourself or someone else experiencing an overdose
• Remain at the scene until help arrives
• Cooperate with law enforcement and emergency personnel

What Virginia's law covers

• Simple possession of drugs (including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription opioids without a prescription)
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Public intoxication
• Both the person overdosing and the person seeking help are protected

What Virginia's law does NOT cover

• Drug distribution or intent to distribute (selling drugs)
• Manufacturing drugs
• Outstanding warrants for other crimes
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Probation or parole violations (these are handled case-by-case)
• Child endangerment charges if minors are present

Virginia's statute includes conditions and exceptions that may affect whether protection applies. Probation, warrants, evidence unrelated to seeking help, and other circumstances can complicate the analysis; consult a Virginia attorney for advice about a specific situation.

Ohio's Good Samaritan Law

Ohio's law (Ohio Revised Code § 2925.11) is similar but has some important details. You're protected from prosecution for drug possession offenses if you:

• Seek emergency medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose
• Remain with the person needing assistance until help arrives
• Cooperate with medical and law enforcement personnel

What Ohio's law covers

• Possession of controlled substances
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Underage alcohol possession (for minors)
• Protection for up to two people who seek help — not just one caller

What Ohio's law does NOT cover

• Trafficking or aggravated trafficking in drugs
• DUI/OVI (operating a vehicle while impaired)
• Outstanding warrants
• Other crimes discovered at the scene unrelated to drug possession

Ohio's law is notable because it explicitly protects two people at the scene who seek help, not just the primary caller. This recognizes that overdoses often happen in group settings where multiple people might fear arrest.

If you're in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, or elsewhere in Ohio and witness a suspected overdose, call 911. Do not assume the law provides blanket immunity; its protection is limited and fact-dependent.

Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan Law

Pennsylvania's law (35 P.S. § 780-113.7) offers similar protections with slightly broader language. You cannot be charged with possession of a controlled substance if you:

• Seek medical assistance for someone experiencing or believed to be experiencing an overdose
• Remain at the scene until assistance arrives
• Cooperate with medical and law enforcement personnel

What Pennsylvania's law covers

• Possession of controlled substances
• Possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia
• Protection applies even if the person doesn't actually overdose — just seeking help in good faith is enough
• Both the overdose victim and the person seeking help are protected

What Pennsylvania's law does NOT cover

• Drug dealing or intent to distribute
• DUI
• Outstanding warrants
• Other criminal activity discovered at the scene

Pennsylvania's law uses the phrase "believed to be experiencing" an overdose, which means you don't have to be 100% certain someone is overdosing to call — if you think something is seriously wrong, you're protected for seeking help.

Whether you're in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Allentown, call 911 during a suspected overdose. Pennsylvania's statute may provide limited protection when its conditions are met.

Why People Still Don't Call (And Why You Should Anyway)

Despite these laws, many people still hesitate to call 911 during an overdose. Common fears include:

• "I'm on probation — I'll get violated"
• "I have a warrant — they'll arrest me"
• "I'm undocumented — they'll turn me over to ICE"
• "I have drugs on me — they'll charge me anyway"
• "The cops won't actually follow the law"

These fears are understandable. The criminal legal system has caused real harm to people who use drugs. Trust is low for good reason.

But here's what matters most: someone is dying. Every minute without oxygen causes brain damage. An overdose can kill in 3–5 minutes.

Good Samaritan laws do not eliminate legal risk, and this article cannot assess how they apply to a particular scene. A suspected overdose is a medical emergency, and fear of legal consequences should not delay calling 911.

Naloxone (Narcan) may temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, but emergency medical care is still necessary. Call 911 and follow the dispatcher or product instructions rather than relying on a fixed timeline or dose count from a blog.

What to Do During an Overdose

If you witness an overdose, here's what to do:

1. Call 911 immediately

Give your location clearly. Say "someone is overdosing" or "someone isn't breathing." You don't have to give your name if you're scared, but staying on the line helps.

2. Give naloxone if available

Administer naloxone (nasal spray or injection). Follow package instructions. You can give multiple doses if needed.

3. Perform rescue breathing or CPR

If the person isn't breathing, tilt their head back, pinch their nose, and give one breath every 5 seconds. If trained in CPR, start chest compressions.

4. Place them in recovery position

If they're breathing but unconscious, roll them onto their side to prevent choking on vomit.

5. Stay with them until help arrives

Follow the 911 dispatcher's instructions. Whether legal protection applies depends on the statute and circumstances, not simply on remaining at the scene.

6. Be honest with paramedics

Give emergency responders accurate information that may help them provide care. This article cannot promise how information will be documented or used outside medical treatment.

If law enforcement arrives and you have questions about your rights or obligations, seek advice from a qualified attorney. This article does not provide a script for a police encounter.

Get connected to life-saving addiction treatment

If you or someone you care about is struggling with opioid use disorder, treatment works. Suboxone treatment is effective, accessible, and available through telehealth in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Grata Health offers telehealth opioid use disorder treatment in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Confirm appointment availability, eligibility, and insurance coverage for your circumstances.

Get started today — your first appointment can happen as soon as tomorrow.

Understanding Your Rights State by State

While the three states Grata Health serves have similar Good Samaritan protections, some differences matter:

Each state's statute uses different definitions, conditions, and exceptions. Avoid ranking them as stronger or weaker based on a summary; check current official sources or consult an attorney.

All three states exclude DUI and drug dealing charges from protection. These laws are specifically about removing the barrier to calling for medical help, not providing immunity for all drug-related activity.

If you're concerned about how the law applies to your specific situation — especially if you have an outstanding warrant or are on probation — consider speaking with a criminal defense attorney in your state. Many public defender offices and legal aid organizations can provide quick consultations about overdose immunity laws.

Real-World Application: What Actually Happens

So what actually happens when you call 911 during an overdose in Virginia, Ohio, or Pennsylvania?

In most cases: Paramedics arrive, treat the overdose, transport the person to the hospital, and leave. Police may or may not show up. If they do, they usually stay out of the way while medical care happens. They don't search people or make arrests for simple possession when someone has clearly called for emergency help.

If law enforcement is present: Do not assume that calling 911 prevents a search, arrest, or charge. The law's application depends on the facts and jurisdiction; prioritize the medical emergency and get legal advice afterward if needed.

If there are larger amounts of drugs: The law protects possession, not distribution. If it looks like dealing (scales, packaging, large quantities), you may still face charges. But calling 911 is still the right decision — a life is on the line.

If you're on probation or parole: This is case-dependent. Some jurisdictions count calling 911 under Good Samaritan laws as a mitigating factor. Some ignore it. Some still file violation reports. But in most cases, judges and probation officers recognize that you did the right thing by saving a life.

The bottom line: these laws are intended to reduce fear about seeking emergency help, but they are limited. They should not be presented as a guarantee about legal consequences.

Why Good Samaritan Laws Matter for Long-Term Recovery

These laws aren't just about immediate crisis response — they're part of a broader harm reduction approach that acknowledges people who use drugs deserve safety, health care, and dignity.

When you know you can call for help without fear, you're more likely to:

• Seek medical care after an overdose instead of leaving the hospital against medical advice
• Connect with treatment services offered by hospital social workers
• Build trust with the health care system
• Access resources like Suboxone treatment that can prevent future overdoses

Many people enter recovery after surviving an overdose. But that path starts with someone making the decision to call 911 — and surviving long enough to get there.

Good Samaritan laws save lives in the moment. They also create pathways to long-term recovery by keeping people alive long enough to make different choices when they're ready.

You Can Save a Life Today

If you witness a suspected overdose, call 911 in Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or anywhere else in the United States. Good Samaritan protections may apply, but no general article can promise that a person will not be arrested or prosecuted.

Someone's life depends on you making that call.

Keep naloxone on hand. Learn the signs of an overdose. Know your rights under Good Samaritan laws. And when it matters, pick up the phone.

These laws exist because your safety and the lives of people who use drugs matter. Every single person deserves a chance to recover. Every single person deserves someone who will call for help when they need it most.

If you're ready to explore treatment for yourself or someone you love, contact Grata Health about telehealth-based opioid use disorder care in Virginia, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. Verify availability and coverage directly.

You don't have to wait for an emergency to get help. Treatment is available now — and it works.

Grata Health offers same-day telehealth appointments in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and accepts most insurance plans. Specific benefits and eligibility vary by plan and individual circumstances.