What does Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan law cover?

Pennsylvania's overdose immunity law, 35 P.S. section 780-113.7, part of Act 139 of 2014, says a person may not be charged or prosecuted for listed offenses and probation or parole violations if they report a drug overdose in good faith, give their name and location, cooperate with responders, and remain until help arrives. Transporting someone to a health care facility also qualifies.

How do I get naloxone in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health issues a standing order that members of the public can print and take to a pharmacy to obtain naloxone. There is also a separate standing order for first responders. Health care professionals may prescribe or dispense naloxone directly or by standing order.

Can a parent force a minor into drug and alcohol treatment in Pennsylvania?

Yes, in defined cases. Act 53 of 1997, 71 P.S. section 1690.112a, lets a parent or legal guardian with custody petition the court of common pleas to commit a minor to involuntary drug and alcohol treatment if the minor will not accept voluntary treatment. A clinician assesses the minor, and the court can order up to 45 days, reviewed in additional 45-day periods.

Is it safe to stop drinking suddenly?

No. Heavy or long-term alcohol use and benzodiazepine use should not be stopped abruptly, because withdrawal can be severe and even life-threatening. Seek medical supervision. Call 911 if someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe.

Addiction Treatment Laws in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's Act 139 of 2014 created two protections that matter most in an overdose: immunity from certain charges when you report one, and wide access to naloxone through a statewide standing order. The state also has a court process for committing minors to drug and alcohol treatment, and Medicaid pays for a large share of the care adults receive.

Pennsylvania's age-adjusted drug overdose death rate was 25.6 per 100,000 people in 2024, with 3,341 deaths, according to the CDC. Those figures describe a population, not an individual. Substance use disorder is treatable, and treatment is available in every county.

Overdose immunity under Act 139

Pennsylvania's overdose immunity law is at 35 P.S. section 780-113.7, added by Act 139 of 2014. A person may not be charged or prosecuted for the listed offenses, or for probation or parole violations, if they can show either that officers learned of the offense only because the person transported someone experiencing an overdose to a law enforcement agency, campus security office, or health care facility, or that all of these are true: they reported the overdose in good faith to 911 or another responder, gave their own name and location, cooperated, and remained with the person until help arrived.

The statute also protects the person who was experiencing the overdose when the person who reported or transported them qualifies for immunity. As everywhere, call 911 first when someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly.

Naloxone standing orders

Act 139 added section 13.8 (35 P.S. section 780-113.8), which lets authorized health care professionals prescribe, dispense, or distribute naloxone directly or by standing order. Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health issues a standing order for the general public that residents can print and present at a pharmacy to obtain naloxone, along with a separate standing order for law enforcement officers and firefighters. The law protects prescribers and Good Samaritans who administer naloxone in good faith, provided they have the required training and promptly seek additional medical help.

Court-ordered treatment for minors

Act 53 of 1997, codified at 71 P.S. section 1690.112a, allows a parent or legal guardian who has custody of a minor under age 18 to petition the court of common pleas for commitment to involuntary drug and alcohol treatment when the minor is unwilling or unable to accept voluntary treatment. The court orders an assessment by a psychiatrist, a licensed psychologist with drug and alcohol training, or a certified addiction counselor. If the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor is drug-dependent and will benefit from treatment, it may order up to 45 days, with review hearings for additional 45-day periods. The minor has the right to counsel, and the parent or guardian is financially responsible for treatment.

For adults, involuntary commitment in Pennsylvania falls under the Mental Health Procedures Act, 50 P.S. section 7101 and following. That law states that people who are alcoholic or drug dependent receive mental health treatment under it only if they are also diagnosed as mentally ill; those conditions by themselves are not treated as mental illness. If you are seeking court-ordered treatment for an adult, a lawyer or your county drug and alcohol office can explain what state law allows.

Does Pennsylvania Medicaid cover addiction treatment?

Yes. Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid, and the program covers the full continuum of substance use disorder services aligned with American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria, including outpatient and intensive outpatient care, withdrawal management, residential treatment, and medication for opioid use disorder. Coverage rules and networks change, so confirm your benefits before choosing a program.

Prescription monitoring and confidentiality

Pennsylvania operates a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program through the Department of Health to track controlled-substance prescriptions. State law at 71 P.S. section 1690.108 protects the confidentiality of drug and alcohol treatment records, and federal rules at 42 CFR Part 2 add further protection for substance use disorder records.

Finding help in Pennsylvania

Call the PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357), available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also text 717-216-0905 or use the online chat.
Contact your county's Single County Authority, which manages publicly funded drug and alcohol services locally.
The state agency is the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP).

If you would like to talk through options, call or text (800) 653-9376 or use the form below.

Safety comes first

Do not stop heavy drinking or benzodiazepine use suddenly. Withdrawal can be dangerous and may require medical supervision. If someone is unresponsive, has trouble breathing, or appears to be overdosing, call 911 right away. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.