新西兰绿党议员卡胡兰吉·卡特提出《药物过量（援助保护）立法法案》，该法案已完成卫生特别委员会听证[1]。该法案旨在保护因药物过量求救的人士免于低级别毒品起诉[1]。根据该法案的规定，警察在救护车被召唤后无法在现场进行起诉，也无权搜查证据，但这些保护不适用于毒品贩子[1]。新西兰每周约有3人死于意外过量，自2016年以来共有1,295人丧生[1]。
新西兰已建立一系列伤害减少措施来应对这一公共卫生挑战。该国于1987年建立了首个合法针头交换项目[1]，如今该项目每年分发超过300万根针头和注射器，通过21家专门交换所、2家流动交换所和197家药房运营[1]。2022年《药物滥用（药物和物质检测服务提供者）规定》使药物检测服务合法化[1]。纳洛酮分发项目也已在至少34个其他国家开展社区或居家分发[1]。类似法律已在加拿大、美国大部分地区和澳大利亚部分地区实施[1]，至少93个国家已跟随实施针头和注射器交换项目[1]。该法案若获批准，将进一步强化现有防控体系。
A new piece of legislation designed to protect people who seek help during drug overdoses from low-level drug prosecution has advanced through New Zealand's parliamentary process.[1] Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick introduced the Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Bill, which recently completed hearings before the health select committee.[1] The proposed law would prevent police from prosecuting individuals for minor drug offences when they or others call for emergency assistance in response to an overdose or adverse reaction.[1]
The need for such protection is underscored by the scale of New Zealand's overdose problem.[1] Approximately three people die each week from accidental overdoses in the country, with a total of 1,295 deaths recorded since 2016.[1] Under the proposed legislation, police would be unable to prosecute at the scene after an ambulance has been summoned, nor would they retain the power to search for evidence—though the law would not extend protection to drug dealers.[1]
New Zealand has already established several harm reduction measures that would be complemented by this legislation.[1] The country pioneered legal needle and syringe exchange programmes in 1987, and these services now distribute over 3 million needles and syringes annually through 21 dedicated exchange sites, two mobile services, and 197 pharmacies.[1] Drug testing services were legalized in 2022 through the Drug Abuse (Drug and Substance Testing Service Provider) Regulations, and naloxone distribution programmes have been documented in at least 34 other countries.[1] These measures reflect broader international experience—similar Good Samaritan protections have been implemented in Canada, most of the United States, and parts of Australia.[1]
