EDINA, Minn. - Over the weekend, authorities in parts of central Minnesota responded to al least six heroin overdoses, two of them resulted in death.
"Don't say this can never happen to you because I would have never imagined myself in this place either."
Star Selleck lost her 19-year-old son, Ian, to a heroin overdose back in 2009. After his death, she helped lobby for “Steve’s Law” in Minnesota, nicknamed after Steve Rummler who died from a heroin overdose in 2011.
“You can’t help anyone when they are dead. I feel this is an important weapon to help fight this epidemic,” Selleck said.
The law greatly gives immunity to 911 callers in drug overdose cases that are acting “in good faith” to help someone who may be overdosing. It also allows first responders, police officers and prevention program workers to carry and administer Narcan, a brand of drug that counters the effects of an overdose.
“As I started to heal from my devastating loss I wanted to find a positive way, so many of his friends were still struggling and I didn’t want other moms to have to feel the same way,” Selleck said.
Selleck has been involved with is the Steve Rummler Hope Foundation. You can check out more information by clicking here. You can also look at Minnesota’s “Good Samaritan” law by clicking here.