G.D. Hancock, Ph.D.
District of Columbia has one law on supplying drugs that cause a death.
Killing another person, even without meaning to, while committing or attempting a felony involving a controlled substance is first-degree murder. This is a general felony-murder law rather than a drug-death law, and researchers disagree about whether to count it as one.
Drug possession, paraphernalia and some underage-drinking offenses are not treated as crimes for a person who seeks help or gives naloxone in good faith for an overdose (their own or someone else's), the person who overdosed, and bystanders, when the offense arises from the same circumstances. It does not cover distribution.
Statute: D.C. Code § 7-403
Does calling for help protect against the drug-death charge? No.
The Good Samaritan law does not list the drug-death offense, so it does not protect against that charge.
Whatever the law says, if someone is overdosing, call 911. A life comes first. More on calling 911.
Federal law applies in every state. When death or serious bodily injury results from using a Schedule I or II drug that a person distributed, federal law sets a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life. Federal prosecutors can bring this charge whatever the state law says. (21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)-(C))
2 cases in the published sample of the drug-induced homicide case database were prosecuted in District of Columbia. The database is still being built; the complete version will be published when it is finished.
This page describes what the statutes say, as of 7 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and it can’t tell you how a court will apply the law to any particular case. Laws change; check the statute, and please speak to a lawyer in District of Columbia about your own situation.