Will I get arrested if I call 911 for an overdose in Missouri?

Missouri's Good Samaritan law (RSMo 195.205) is designed to encourage people to seek emergency medical help during a drug or alcohol overdose. The law addresses situations where someone experiences or witnesses an overdose and calls for help. Call 911 first - that is what the law intends.

Can I get naloxone in Missouri without a prescription?

Yes. The director of the Department of Health and Senior Services may issue a statewide standing order for an opioid antagonist under RSMo 195.206, and the department publishes a current standing order that broadens access to naloxone.

Can Missouri force someone into alcohol or drug treatment?

In limited circumstances, yes. Chapter 632 RSMo provides the statutory authority for civil involuntary detention with due process. An initial detention period runs up to 96 hours, and a court may order 30 or 90 days of alcohol or drug treatment.

What is Missouri's SATOP program?

The Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program is for people with an alcohol or drug-related traffic offense. The Division of Behavioral Health certifies the agencies, and SATOP is by law a required element of driver license reinstatement through the Department of Revenue.

Missouri Drug and Alcohol Laws: What Families Should Know

Missouri law gives families and bystanders real protections during a crisis: a Good Samaritan law that encourages calling 911 during an overdose, a statewide standing order that widens access to naloxone, and a court process - used sparingly - for compelling alcohol or drug treatment. This page walks through each one in plain language.

Calling 911 during an overdose: Missouri's Good Samaritan law

Section 195.205 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri defines a drug or alcohol overdose as a condition including extreme physical illness, decreased level of consciousness, and respiratory depression tied to substance use. The law is designed to save lives by encouraging people to seek emergency medical help if they experience or witness a drug or alcohol overdose or other medical emergency.

The practical takeaway: if someone is unresponsive, turning blue, or struggling to breathe, call 911 immediately. Seconds matter, and Missouri law is written to push people toward that call rather than away from it.

Getting naloxone without a prescription

Section 195.206 allows the director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, if a licensed physician, to issue a statewide standing order for an opioid antagonist. The department publishes a current standing order that broadens access to naloxone, the medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

The department reports that the standing order continues to save lives as access expands, and that overdose deaths have fallen for three consecutive years since 2023, with opioid deaths down 23% in 2025. If you or someone close to you uses opioids, having naloxone on hand and knowing how to use it is one of the most concrete steps you can take.

Court-ordered treatment: civil involuntary detention

Missouri Statutes, Chapter 632 RSMo, provide the statutory authority for involuntary treatment under certain conditions, with appropriate due process. The Department of Mental Health describes this process as civil involuntary detention.

Here is how it works in broad strokes:

Facilities recognized by the Department of Mental Health have designated mental health professionals who can initiate on-site civil involuntary detention for people who need emergency evaluation and treatment.
The initial period runs up to 96 hours, excluding weekends and certain holidays.
After that, the treating physician and treatment team decide whether further detention is needed, and a court hearing may follow.
A court may order 30 days or 90 days of alcohol or drug treatment.

This process exists for situations where a person's condition leaves them unable to make decisions about their own basic needs or places them in danger. It is a legal process with due process protections, not a shortcut, and families usually start by talking with a treatment provider, a crisis line, or the probate court in their county.

SATOP: the traffic-offense route into treatment

Missouri's Substance Awareness Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) is a different kind of entry point. The Division of Behavioral Health certifies agencies to provide services to people with an alcohol or drug-related traffic offense, and SATOP is by law a required element in driver license reinstatement through the Department of Revenue.

Everyone enters through an Offender Management Unit, where a review of the driver record, breath alcohol concentration at arrest, a computer-interpreted assessment, and an interview with a Qualified Substance Abuse Professional leads to a referral at one of several service levels. Many people find SATOP is the first structured look at their substance use - and some use it as a genuine starting point for recovery.

Where to go from here

Laws set the frame, but recovery happens through treatment. Start with the Missouri state treatment guide, search the SAMHSA locator, or call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through options with a person. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988 any time.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes are amended and agency policies change, so confirm current law with the Missouri Revisor of Statutes or an attorney.