Columbia’s proposed Good Samaritan ordinance to include minor in possession
As the City of Columbia moves forward with a proposed Good Samaritan ordinance, one part of the legislation will differ from the St. Louis law it mimics.
City Councilman Michael Trapp says Columbia’s Good Samaritan ordinance will include minor in possession, due to the binge-drinking culture in Columbia.
“We’re going to include minor in possession because in addition to opioid overdoses, we’re also concerned about binge drinking among young people so we’re going to exempt minor in possession, which I think is more of a Columbia problem because of the University of Missouri,” Councilman Trapp tells ABC 17 News.
The St. Louis ordinance, as written, states that it “provides immunity from prosecution for possession or control” of controlled substances when someone calls for medical attention for someone experiencing a drug overdose. It also provides protection to the person reporting the overdose and the person experiencing the overdose.
Following the Columbia City Council’s October meeting, the Columbia Police Department recommended that the ordinance include immunity on minor in possession (alcohol) charges.
In November, the University of Missouri withdrew Kappa Alpha Order’s recognition as a fraternity on campus for five years. The punishment came after MU suspended Kappa Alpha to investigate a hazing incident involving an 18-year-old male who apparently participated in a vodka chugging contest and was later taken to the hospital via ambulance with a blood alcohol content of .45, five times the legal limit.
