Rhode Island § 21-28.9-4 § 21-28.9-4. Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 21-28.9-4 — § 21-28.9-4. Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.

Rhode Island § 21-28.9-4

Title 21Food And Drugs

Ch. 21-28.9The Good Samaritan Overdose Prevention Act of 2016

This text of Rhode Island § 21-28.9-4 (§ 21-28.9-4. Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.9-4 (2026).

Text

§ 21-28.9-4. Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.
(a) Any person who, in good faith, without malice and in the absence of evidence of an
            intent to defraud, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug or alcohol
            overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency shall not be charged
            or prosecuted for any crime related to the possession of a controlled substance or
            drug paraphernalia, or the operation of a drug-involved premises, if the evidence
            for the charge was gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.
         
(b) A person who experiences a drug or alco

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§ 21-28.9-4. Emergency overdose care — Immunity from legal repercussions.

(a) Any person who, in good faith, without malice and in the absence of evidence of an intent to defraud, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency shall not be charged or prosecuted for any crime related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, or the operation of a drug-involved premises, if the evidence for the charge was gained as a result of the seeking of medical assistance.

(b) A person who experiences a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency and is in need of medical assistance shall not be charged or prosecuted for any crime related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, possession or transportation of alcohol by an underage person, or the operation of a drug-involved premises, if the evidence for the charge was gained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.

(c) The act of providing first aid or other medical assistance to someone who is experiencing a drug or alcohol overdose or other drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution pursuant to the controlled substances act.

(d) The immunity related to the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia, possession or transportation of alcohol by an underage person, or the operation of a drug-involved premises afforded under this section shall also extend to a violation of bail, probation, and/or parole on those grounds.

Legislative History

P.L. 2016, ch. 1, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 2, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 138, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 195, § 1; P.L. 2025, ch. 375, § 1, effective July 1, 2025; P.L. 2025, ch. 377, § 1, effective July 1, 2025.