G.D. Hancock, Ph.D.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has two laws on supplying drugs that cause a death.

Statutes last checked 7 October 2026 · Not legal advice

Supplying drugs that cause a death

Controlled substance delivery resulting in death

Added in 2018. Unlawfully delivering a controlled substance to an adult in exchange for anything of value, or to someone who passes it on to an adult, when the adult dies from using it. Sharing drugs does not count as an exchange for value. A person who in good faith seeks medical help for someone overdosing cannot be charged under this section on evidence gained from seeking help.

Statute
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-7
Penalty
Up to life. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-7(c))

Controlled substance transaction resulting in death of a minor

Selling, delivering or distributing a controlled substance to a minor (or providing it for that purpose) when the minor dies from using it.

Statute
R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-6
Penalty
Life. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-6)

Calling for help: the Good Samaritan law

A person who seeks medical help in good faith for someone overdosing, and the person who overdosed, cannot be charged or prosecuted for possession of drugs or paraphernalia or operating a drug-involved premises, or for related bail, probation or parole violations, when the evidence came from seeking help. Separately, the delivery-resulting-in-death law has its own protection for people who call for help.

Statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.9-4

Does calling for help protect against the drug-death charge? In part.

The adult drug-death law protects a person who seeks medical help in good faith, on evidence gained from seeking help. The law on deaths of minors has no such protection.

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 Rhode Island in the database sample

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

Sources

  1. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-7
  2. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-23-6
  3. R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.9-4
  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 Rhode Island about your own situation.