Prevention/Intervention Measures

Drug Collection Boxes – Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Prescription drug take-back information

Good Samaritan Law

Pennsylvania Act 139 is called the “Good Samaritan Law”. This law permits certain criminal and civil protections for those who reach out to the authorities to help in an overdose emergency, and it can also provide certain protections for the individual experiencing the overdose.

For the Good Samaritan Law to apply, you must:

  • Call 911 or alert the authorities in an overdose emergency.
  • Cooperate with authorities and provide your name and location.
  • Remain with the individual experiencing the overdose until emergency services arrive.

Immunity may be given for the following crimes:

  • Possession of a small amount of drugs.
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia.
  • Violations of probation and parole.

Signs of an opioid overdose:

  • Extremely pale face or feels clammy to the touch
  • Limp body
  • Fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color to them
  • Vomiting or gurgling noises
  • Unable to speak
  • Cannot be awakened
  • Slowed or stopped breathing or heartbeat

Naloxone information

Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that reverses an opioid overdose if administered in time. A standing prescription order from the PA Department of Health allows residents who are at risk of an opioid related overdose; or family members, friends, or others who are in a position to assist a person at risk of overdose, to obtain Naloxone from a Pharmacy in Pennsylvania. Additional information on Naloxone, including the standing prescription order, can be found at the PA Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs website at: www.ddap.pa.gov/pages/default.aspx

Currently, all municipal police departments, the Centre County Sheriff’s Department as well as the EMS departments in Centre county are equipped with Naloxone through a grant with Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The Centre County Probation Department will be next to receive. The Centre County Correctional Facility is also equipped with Naloxone that can be administered via intranasal or injected by their medical staff. According to PCCD, from November 2017 through June of 2019, Centre County’s CCE reported 27 doses of Naloxone were utilized on 24 individuals resulting in 22 reversals. This data does not include the Pennsylvania State Police Naloxone usage.