50-state survey

Midwives play a critical role in reducing maternal mortality and many states have made an effort to expand the number of midwives by allowing the licensure of “direct entry” midwives who may be credentialed despite not having a formal nursing education. This resource provides a summary of laws in all states and the District of Columbia regulating direct entry, including training requirements for licensure, the state regulatory body, and what medications midwives can administer while practicing.

States have been rapidly modifying their laws to increase access to drug checking equipment. Between August 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, laws that permit drug checking equipment to be possessed, distributed, or both went into effect in ten states (Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin). An additional two states (California and Georgia) passed laws in that time period that will go into effect in 2023. Additionally, Louisiana and Texas added drug checking equipment to their overdose Good Samaritan laws.

The Network examined whether states and Washington, D.C., have criminal statutes to address individuals who impede public health officials’ duties with such behavior. This 50-state resource outlines these statutes.

We conducted a systematic legal review to determine the prevalence and characteristics of state laws that require some or all hospital emergency departments to create protocols to screen patients for substance use disorder as well as those that require that hospitals take specific actions when providing care to such individuals or individuals who have experienced an overdose.

This resource summarizes the characteristics of naloxone access and Good Samaritan laws in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

This resource summarizes the characteristics of naloxone access and Good Samaritan laws in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. recognize medical cannabis as a lawful medication. However, the law in many of these states fails to adequately protect patients in their efforts to secure employment, enroll in school, rent a home, or even secure child custody or visitation rights. Treating medical cannabis patients differently from other patients is inherently discriminatory and produces harmful stigma, which creates negative short- and long-term health effects.

This resource summarizes the characteristics of naloxone access and Good Samaritan laws in 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Network examined whether states and Washington, D.C., have criminal statutes to address individuals who impede public health officials’ duties with such behavior. This 50-state resource outlines these statutes.

This survey of state laws outlines how the legal landscape in each state may affect access to harm reduction services and supplies.

This resource provides a summary of the laws and regulations regarding water fluoridation in each U.S. state and select jurisdictions.

This fact sheet provides information on Pennsylvania's Act 139, which provides limited immunity to overdose victims and bystanders that seek medical help, and increases accesss to naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.