My name is Marshall Mercer, I’ve been organizing for the Maine Recovery Advocacy Project for two years or so, and was formerly incarcerated and has been in sustainable recovery for over five years. Since I have been in recovery, I have been advocating, organizing and trying to spread hope to combat this disease, however I can and wherever I can by sharing my story of recovery and actively listening to others victories and defeat-

For the last few years the other organizations and I have conducted listening sessions online and in person all over Maine and we have come up with the same stories, time after time.

What we have heard from the people we claim to be serving is that they are scared to call for help in the event of a drug overdose for various reasons. Police don’t hold their end of the bargain, or they don’t know the Good Samaritan law existed.

In many cases, a person wouldn’t call the police because they were on probation, or they waited for people to leave before calling, or had to clean the scene first.

Currently, Maine’s Good Samaritan law protects a person who calls for help from arrest or prosecution for violating laws prohibiting the possession of scheduled drugs, acquiring drugs by deception, possession of hypodermic apparatuses, use of drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation.

The problem is that it doesn’t protect other people in the house: just the caller and the one overdosing, leaving others to become victimized.

So because of fear, we still won’t call. But we the people can help by standing together to strengthen Maine Good Samaritan law through L.D. 1862.

We have an opportunity to take a stand to help our people and their families that are suffering in Maine. Will you help us?

Marshall Mercer

Augusta

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