OKLAHOMA CITY — A new Oklahoma law requires first responders to notify law enforcement whenever they respond to a drug overdose.
House Bill 2941, which passed the House 87-2 in March, went into effect Nov. 1, KFOR reported.
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The law states first responders only have to notify law enforcement after they have fully attended to the person’s medical needs. It will also require investigators to presume fentanyl was the cause of death in cases where someone dies following a fentanyl overdose.
In a statement, the bill’s author, Rep. Steve Bashore, said the measure is aimed at gathering data to pinpoint where the addiction crisis is spreading.
“Fentanyl is a growing problem in our state and across the nation,” Bashore said. “Having more detailed data on the spread of this deadly drug in Oklahoma will help law enforcement identify problem areas, direct resources where they are needed most and better target those responsible for distributing this deadly drug.”
Brandi Vore, executive director of OCARTA (Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Transformation Association), a group working on the addiction crisis, told KFOR that the law leaves a lot unclear, including how the notification process would work in real time, whether it could overwhelm 911 operators, and who would oversee data collection and tracking.
Vore said people struggling with addiction are often already hesitant to call 911 for help, and knowing law enforcement may become involved is unlikely to make that decision any easier.
She added the law could help identify “hot areas” experiencing a higher spike in need, but added that carrying it out must prioritize building trust between law enforcement and people in crisis, according to KFOR.
