# Legal culpability in drug overdose deaths

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-culpability-in-drug-overdose-deaths/146848>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 6, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-culpability-in-drug-overdose-deaths/146848 "2003-01-06T00:41:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-culpability-in-drug-overdose-deaths/146848/1 "2003-01-06T00:41:56Z")

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A friend of mine died of a heroin overdose on Christmas day. He was in a hotel room with his dealer, who provided the drugs. Is the dealer liable for criminal prosecution related to my friends death? If so, what could he be charged with? Manslaughter? Accessory? Posession? What are the legal repercussions of being in that position? Any and all legal insight is appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-culpability-in-drug-overdose-deaths/146848/2 "2003-01-06T02:44:09Z")

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IANA lawyer, but I’d say yes, if there was evidence that the dealer provided the drugs, the dealer is probably criminally and civilly liable. In fact I have a hard time imagining circumstances under which the dealer _wouldn’t_ be liable.

However, it may be hard to provide conclusive evidence linking the dealer to the drugs.