G.D. Hancock, Ph.D.

Nevada

Nevada has one law on supplying drugs that cause a death.

Statutes last checked 7 October 2026 · Not legal advice

Supplying drugs that cause a death

Murder (death caused by a controlled substance supplied unlawfully)

Murder includes an unlawful killing caused by a controlled substance that was sold, given, traded or otherwise made available to a person in violation of Nevada's drug laws. Unless it meets the definition of first-degree murder, it is second-degree murder.

Statute
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.010(2)
Penalty
Second-degree murder: life with parole eligibility after 10 years, or a definite 25 years with parole eligibility after 10. (Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.030(5))

Calling for help: the Good Samaritan law

A person who seeks medical help in good faith for someone overdosing, a person who seeks it for themselves, and the subject of the request cannot be arrested, charged, prosecuted, convicted or penalized for paraphernalia, use, or possession (other than possession for sale or trafficking amounts), or for violating a restraining order, parole or probation, when the evidence came from seeking help. A court must consider seeking help in mitigation when sentencing other drug offenses.

Statute: Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453C.150

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

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))

Cases from Nevada in the database sample

3 cases in the published sample of the drug-induced homicide case database were prosecuted in Nevada. The database is still being built; the complete version will be published when it is finished.

Sources

  1. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.010(2)
  2. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.030(5)
  3. Nev. Rev. Stat. § 453C.150
  4. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)-(C)

About this information

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 Nevada about your own situation.