Under Pennsylvania’s medical amnesty law, if a person in good faith calls and believes he or she is the first to call 911, the police, an ambulance, or campus security, and also gives their name and stays with the person to prevent that person’s death or serious injury, the caller is immune from prosecution for consumption or possession of alcohol or drugs.

In short if you and a friend have been drinking or doing drugs and you are under 21, if one of you gets into medical trouble, the other can call for help without fear of being prosecuted for an underage drinking or drug violation.

People do not always make the right decisions when they are worried about getting into trouble and may not call for help when needed. The medical amnesty law is designed to stop that hesitation and keep people safe.