Calling for Help in an Overdose
AS 11.71.311 — no possession charge for someone who calls in good faith, stays and cooperates
A person may not be prosecuted for certain possession offenses if they sought medical or law enforcement help in good faith for someone they reasonably believed was overdosing, and the evidence came from seeking that help.
Who handles this in Alaska: Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Alaska directory.
- The person stayed with the other person until help arrived.
- The person cooperated with medical or law enforcement personnel, identification included.
A person who was overdosing and sought medical help is covered the same way, when the evidence came from the overdose and the need for help. A drug overdose means a life threatening emergency caused by a controlled substance.
Sources for this section (1)
- AS 11.71.311 — Restriction on prosecution for certain persons in connection with a drug overdose
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Alaska attorney.