ORILLIA – On Aug. 31 the OPP joined individuals and organizations worldwide to mark International Overdose Awareness Day.
Police marked the occasion by reminding people they should always call 911 to report an overdose.
Observers may hesitate to call 911 in fear of police involvement, so police are informing them about the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA).
In 2019, the OPP created posters, information cards and community safety videos to help educate the public and community agencies.
These resources as well as other additional information about the GSDOA can be found at www.opp.ca/overdose and on OPP social media accounts.
Police say the GSDOA provides protection against charges for possessing drugs for personal use and for violating parole, bail, probation or conditional sentence conditions for a simple drug possession charge.
It does not provide protection against charges for trafficking illegal drugs; offences other than drug possession; outstanding arrest warrants; and violating parole bail, probation or conditional sentence conditions for offences other than simple drug possession.
