During the past 19 years, I served as a homicide detective in the Violent Crimes Division of the Palm
Beach County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. In that capacity, I investigate all manner of death. In addition,
since 2007, I have managed the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, Overdose Suppression Project. This
innovative and comprehensive venture includes components dedicated to overdose research, public
awareness and targeted law enforcement. After examining the circumstances surrounding hundreds of
overdose deaths in our community, the Overdose Suppression Team came to the conclusion that most
overdose emergencies are in fact witnessed events. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s examination of 353
local drug overdose deaths revealed:
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66.3% of the time--others were present during the event.
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55.5% of the time--others were aware of the decedent’s fatal drug use on the occasion of their
death.
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37.7% of the time--someone recognized the victim’s distress prior to death.
Despite the fact that drug overdose collapses are often observed by others, these witnesses frequently
waste precious, life saving time attempting well intended, but ineffective home remedies such as:
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Putting the victim in a cold shower
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Giving him/her coffee or some other stimulant
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Or worst yet---putting the victim to bed to “sleep it off.”
The overdose victim does not need to “sleep it off.” What the overdose victim needs is for someone—
anyone--to step up and take the simple, but decisive and lifesaving step of calling “911”.
Because drug overdoses often involve illicit drugs or the intentional misuse of prescription drugs,
witnesses are understandably apprehensive about notifying authorities. Simply put, they don’t want to
risk their own arrest or the arrest of the overdose victim. The best way to encourage overdose witnesses
to seek emergency medical help is to offer onlookers and the overdose victim limited immunity from
criminal prosecution if emergency medical assistance is called during an overdose crisis. This harm
reduction mindset led to the recent passage of Florida’s “911 Good Samaritan Law” FSS 893-21.
I urge you to support North Carolina’s 911 Good Samaritan, Naloxone Liability Reduction and
Comprehensive Overdose Prevention Bill.
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Bills/Senate/PDF/S20v0.pdf
Please contact me if I can help answer any questions.
Regards,
Gary
Detective Gary Martin
Violent Crimes Division – Homicide Unit
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
561-688-4058
marting@pbso.org