Fear, Delay, and Preventable Death: Rethinking Wyoming's Legislative Framework to Reduce Barriers in Overdose Emergency Reporting

This Comment asks whether Wyoming’s current immunity framework for reporting overdoses truly reduces delays in emergency treatment when distance, weather, and limited emergency medical service (EMS) capacity already regularly extend response times. It proposes that by amending two Wyoming statutes and funding statewide education, the goal of reducing barriers to calling 9-1-1 to report overdoses can be better achieved, and residents better protected. To support these proposed changes, Part II provides a concise account of relevant Wyoming statutory protections. Part III proposes specific amendments that would address the on-the-ground challenges of the Wyoming emergency response system. These adjustments will utilize available resources—with the known characteristics of Wyoming—to best further the legislative goal of reducing preventable deaths. Last, Parts IV and V address common misconceptions regarding the proposed lifesaving legislation, why they fail to undermine the need for change, and why this is the most efficient and ethical route for Wyoming to pursue in its fight against the opioid epidemic.