Tennessee Overdose Prevention (TOP) is educating, implementing and developing resources for Tennessee’s laws.  Tennessee Overdose Prevention is a grassroots organization comprised of parents, healthcare professionals, harm reduction advocates and friends of those who have lost loved ones to accidental drug overdose.

 

Our Good Sam law that went into effect on July 1, 2015  provides the following protection -

 

1.  “shall not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for a drug violation”

 

2.  “Penalties for a violation of a permanent or temporary protective order or restraining order; or (2) Sanctions for a violation of a condition of pretrial release, condition of probation, or condition of parole based on a drug violation.”

 

3.  The act of providing first aid or other medical assistance to someone who is experiencing a drug overdose may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution for which immunity

 

The law passed in 2014 also increases access to the opioid overdose “antidote” naloxone, also called Narcan. Physicians may prescribe naloxone to a family member, friend, or other person in a position to assist a person at risk of opioid overdose.  The physician and person administering naloxone are immune from civil liability as long as they act in good faith and in compliance with the applicable standard of care. The timely administration of naloxone typically reverses the effects of opiates such as heroin and opioids like hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone and others. Victims of  opioid overdose who receive naloxone in time are less likely to die or suffer long-term brain or tissue damage.

 

Inspired by the lives that will be saved the above laws, Tennessee Overdose Prevention is now focused on education, implementation and development of resources for Tennessee's Naloxone and Good Samaritan’s laws  

 

Our goal is to save lives.