Ohio Revised Code 2925.11(B)(2)(b) — Ohio’s Good Samaritan law — provides immunity from arrest and prosecution for minor drug possession to people who seek medical help for someone experiencing an overdose. The law exists because fear of arrest was killing people who could have been saved. Understanding it can save a life.
What the Law Protects
A person who, in good faith, seeks or obtains medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug overdose — or who is themselves experiencing an overdose and seeks help — is immune from arrest, charge, prosecution, or conviction for minor drug possession offenses (fifth-degree felony possession or lower) and drug paraphernalia offenses discovered as a result of seeking help. The person experiencing the overdose is also protected.
Conditions and Limits
Ohio’s law requires the person to receive a referral for addiction screening and treatment within 30 days and to provide proof to the prosecutor if requested. Immunity can be used only twice. It does not protect against trafficking charges, possession of larger quantities, or other crimes discovered at the scene. It does not apply to people on probation or parole in all circumstances. Law enforcement retains discretion in how the law is applied.
What to Do During an Overdose
Call 911. Administer naloxone if available. Stay with the person. Place them on their side if they are breathing. Be honest with responders about what was taken — it affects treatment. Fentanyl overdose may require multiple naloxone doses; xylazine-involved overdose may not fully respond to naloxone and requires rescue breathing.
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After an Overdose
A non-fatal overdose is a critical clinical moment. The Recovery Village Columbus can assess and admit patients directly from emergency departments. Medical detox with buprenorphine initiation and residential treatment follow. See naloxone in Columbus.
Treatment at The Recovery Village Columbus
The Recovery Village Columbus, located at 3964 Hamilton Square Blvd, Groveport, OH 43125, provides the full continuum of addiction and mental health care on one campus: medical detox, inpatient residential rehab, inpatient mental health treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare planning. Dual diagnosis treatment is integrated at every level of care. The 52,000-square-foot facility is Joint Commission accredited and physician-led, with board-certified psychiatrists providing medication management throughout treatment. Teletherapy through the Nobu app extends care to patients across Ohio.
Insurance and Admissions
The Recovery Village Columbus is in-network with Anthem BCBS Ohio, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Medical Mutual, Humana, MultiPlan, Tricare East, and the Optum VA Community Care Network. Verify your insurance to confirm your coverage — the admissions team returns deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket figures the same business day and handles prior authorization on your behalf. Walk-in admissions and same-day or next-day entry are available when medically appropriate. Learn more about the cost of rehab or read what to expect at The Recovery Village Columbus.
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
The Groveport campus sits just off I-270 and US-33 in southeast Franklin County, minutes from downtown Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Patients travel from Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties and from across Ohio. Ohio has ranked among the top five states for overdose mortality for over a decade — Franklin County alone recorded more than 700 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in the large majority. See the Ohio drug abuse and overdose statistics for regional data. Explore the facility or meet the care team.
Treatment at The Recovery Village Columbus
The Recovery Village Columbus, located at 3964 Hamilton Square Blvd, Groveport, OH 43125, provides the full continuum of addiction and mental health care on one campus: medical detox, inpatient residential rehab, inpatient mental health treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare planning. Dual diagnosis treatment is integrated at every level of care. The 52,000-square-foot facility is Joint Commission accredited and physician-led, with board-certified psychiatrists providing medication management throughout treatment. Teletherapy through the Nobu app extends care to patients across Ohio.
Insurance and Admissions
The Recovery Village Columbus is in-network with Anthem BCBS Ohio, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Medical Mutual, Humana, MultiPlan, Tricare East, and the Optum VA Community Care Network. Verify your insurance to confirm your coverage — the admissions team returns deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket figures the same business day and handles prior authorization on your behalf. Walk-in admissions and same-day or next-day entry are available when medically appropriate. Learn more about the cost of rehab or read what to expect at The Recovery Village Columbus.
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
The Groveport campus sits just off I-270 and US-33 in southeast Franklin County, minutes from downtown Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Patients travel from Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties and from across Ohio. Ohio has ranked among the top five states for overdose mortality for over a decade — Franklin County alone recorded more than 700 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in the large majority. See the Ohio drug abuse and overdose statistics for regional data. Explore the facility or meet the care team.
Treatment at The Recovery Village Columbus
The Recovery Village Columbus, located at 3964 Hamilton Square Blvd, Groveport, OH 43125, provides the full continuum of addiction and mental health care on one campus: medical detox, inpatient residential rehab, inpatient mental health treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare planning. Dual diagnosis treatment is integrated at every level of care. The 52,000-square-foot facility is Joint Commission accredited and physician-led, with board-certified psychiatrists providing medication management throughout treatment. Teletherapy through the Nobu app extends care to patients across Ohio.
Insurance and Admissions
The Recovery Village Columbus is in-network with Anthem BCBS Ohio, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Medical Mutual, Humana, MultiPlan, Tricare East, and the Optum VA Community Care Network. Verify your insurance to confirm your coverage — the admissions team returns deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket figures the same business day and handles prior authorization on your behalf. Walk-in admissions and same-day or next-day entry are available when medically appropriate. Learn more about the cost of rehab or read what to expect at The Recovery Village Columbus.
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
The Groveport campus sits just off I-270 and US-33 in southeast Franklin County, minutes from downtown Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Patients travel from Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties and from across Ohio. Ohio has ranked among the top five states for overdose mortality for over a decade — Franklin County alone recorded more than 700 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in the large majority. See the Ohio drug abuse and overdose statistics for regional data. Explore the facility or meet the care team.
Treatment at The Recovery Village Columbus
The Recovery Village Columbus, located at 3964 Hamilton Square Blvd, Groveport, OH 43125, provides the full continuum of addiction and mental health care on one campus: medical detox, inpatient residential rehab, inpatient mental health treatment, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare planning. Dual diagnosis treatment is integrated at every level of care. The 52,000-square-foot facility is Joint Commission accredited and physician-led, with board-certified psychiatrists providing medication management throughout treatment. Teletherapy through the Nobu app extends care to patients across Ohio.
Insurance and Admissions
The Recovery Village Columbus is in-network with Anthem BCBS Ohio, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Medical Mutual, Humana, MultiPlan, Tricare East, and the Optum VA Community Care Network. Verify your insurance to confirm your coverage — the admissions team returns deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket figures the same business day and handles prior authorization on your behalf. Walk-in admissions and same-day or next-day entry are available when medically appropriate. Learn more about the cost of rehab or read what to expect at The Recovery Village Columbus.
Serving Columbus and Central Ohio
The Groveport campus sits just off I-270 and US-33 in southeast Franklin County, minutes from downtown Columbus and John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Patients travel from Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, and Union counties and from across Ohio. Ohio has ranked among the top five states for overdose mortality for over a decade — Franklin County alone recorded more than 700 overdose deaths in 2023, with fentanyl involved in the large majority. See the Ohio drug abuse and overdose statistics for regional data. Explore the facility or meet the care team.
