Steve’s Law

Make the Call. Save a Life.

Steve’s Law is Minnesota’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Law. It provides legal protections to people who seek help in an overdose situation, as well as the person overdosing.

Note: this information is solely based on Minnesota law. If you are outside Minnesota, check your state’s Good Samaritan law for info on legal protections.

What Steve’s Law Does

Legal Protections

A person who calls 911, or helps another person seeking medical help, during a drug overdose cannot be charged or prosecuted for possessing, using, or sharing drugs. As long as they act in good faith to get help, the law protects them from certain drug-related charges. The person experiencing the overdose is also protected.

There are certain limitations to these protections. Read more below.

Naloxone Access

Steve’s Law expands access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses, in three major ways:

Expansion and immunity. Anyone can carry and administer naloxone, no prescription necessary. When acting in good faith to save a life, they are protected from legal liability under the law.

Third-party prescriptions. Anyone—such as family members, friends, or bystanders—can obtain naloxone to use in an emergency, even if they are not the person at risk of an overdose.

Pharmacist prescribing. Pharmacists can directly prescribe and dispense naloxone to anyone who requests it, without requiring a prior prescription from a doctor.

Naloxone was approved for over-the-counter (OTC) sales in 2023, so prescriptions are no longer needed to obtain it.

Protections for Students

Fear of legal or disciplinary consequences can prevent students from calling 911 in an emergency, especially in cases of underage drinking. Minnesota’s Good Samaritan and Medical Amnesty laws protect those seeking help for someone experiencing alcohol poisoning from certain underage alcohol and drug possession charges.

Law enforcement, including campus security, cannot cite students in these situations if they are acting in good faith. Many colleges also have Medical Amnesty Policies that protect students from school disciplinary action. Check your university’s code of conduct to understand its specific policy.

Learn about the University of Minnesota’s amnesty policy here.

FAQ

A Good Samaritan law provides legal protection to people who help in an emergency. In the case of drug overdoses, these laws encourage people to call 911 by protecting them from certain drug-related charges.

Steve’s Law applies to anyone in Minnesota seeking medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose, persons cooperating on the scene, and the person experiencing the overdose.

Under the law, a person who calls 911 or helps someone else seek medical assistance cannot be arrested or charged for possessing, using, or sharing drugs if the evidence was obtained solely as a result of seeking help. The same legal protections apply to the individual experiencing the overdose.

Steve’s Law provides important legal protections, but there are some exceptions to this immunity. A person is not protected from prosecution if:

  • They possess drugs in quantities that indicate intent to sell or distribute.
  • They are involved in drug manufacturing or trafficking.
  • They have outstanding warrants for their arrest.
  • They interfere with law enforcement or medical personnel at the scene.
  • The evidence for charges is obtained outside of the act of seeking medical assistance (i.e., not solely as a result of calling for help).

These provisions are designed to encourage people to seek emergency help, but not shield serious criminal activity unrelated to the immediate overdose situation.

Steve’s Law is named in memory of Steve Rummler, who lost his life to an opioid overdose in 2011. His family advocated for the law to increase access to naloxone and encourage life-saving action without fear of legal consequences.

You can read the full text of Steve’s Law on the Minnesota Legislature website (Minnesota Statutes, section 604A.05). The law has been updated and expanded since its passage in 2014. Stay informed about any changes by following the Minnesota Revisor’s Office or the Minnesota Department of Health.

Read Steve’s Law

Steve Rummler HOPE Network provides free intramuscular naloxone kits and training to the public. Visit one of our Naloxone Access Points to pickup your free kit, or request a kit by mail. Naloxone can also be purchased OTC at pharmacy retailers like Walgreens, CVS, Target, and more.

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