Drug-induced homicide (DIH) laws, which establish criminal charges to hold a person legally responsible for another person’s fatal overdose resulting from drugs that they supplied, are increasingly being used to respond to the opioid crisis.
While the laws may seem like a way to bring justice and combat the opioid crisis by curbing drug sales and use, research shows that these laws fail to deliver justice or safety and have unintended consequences that actually worsen the crisis.
This page provides resources outlining the research on DIH laws, explaining the many reasons why they are counterproductive to addressing the overdose crisis, and providing alternative supports for families who lost loved ones to overdose.
Drug-Induced Homicide: Fact Sheet
Drug-Induced Homicide: Fact Sheet
This fact sheet outlines what drug-induced homicide laws are, why they fail to deliver justice or safety and their unintended consequences, and what’s needed instead.
Drug-Induced Homicide: Family Guide
Drug-Induced Homicide: Family Guide
This guide explains the research on drug-induced homicide laws, which demonstrates that the laws fail to curb drug sales and use and instead have unintended consequences that harm people with addiction. It recognizes why some families who have lost loved ones to overdose may support these laws and provides key education and resources for them to channel grief and advocacy.