No matter who you are, you may be touched by someone who has been affected by the opioid crisis. Opioids have become a major concern in the streets, as they’re easy to access and often overprescribed.
Even those who work with the school systems may be affected by the drugs, which were normally prescribed for patients in pain. Take for example this story. A former Akron school board member has been charged with possessing marijuana, but he has pleaded not guilty. According to the Jan. 24 report, the 57-year-old man was discovered unconscious in his vehicle on East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue. It was believed that he had overdosed on drugs.
He was rushed to Summa Akron City Hospital after receiving four doses of naloxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of opiates. He was found to be in possession of fentanyl, according to the police report, and he allegedly also had marijuana. He admitted to having fentanyl, but he claimed he was not guilty to the charge placed for possessing marijuana.
In Ohio, the good Samaritan law allows people to seek immunity against arrest for drug charges if they have overdosed. The law helps by allowing them to seek drug treatment instead of arrest and potential prison time.
If you’re accused of drug charges or have overdosed, keep the good Samaritan law in mind. It’s a good way to keep yourself clean of drug crime convictions and allows you to get the medical help you need to stop the cycle of addiction if necessary. This is just one possible way to avoid jail time.
Source: Ohio.com, “Former Akron board member pleads not guilty to drug charge,” Theresa Cottom, Jan. 23, 2018