Indiana Lifeline Act could save lives

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Alcohol poisoning is responsible for nearly 80,000 deaths nationwide every year.

However, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says a new bill could be what Indiana needs to help reduce that number.

If passed, the Indiana Lifeline Act allows students to call 911 for someone who's been drinking too much, without getting themselves into trouble.

"A lot of times these students overdose because nobody called, they're so worried about getting in trouble themselves," Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller said.

The idea comes from students themselves, at Purdue University. The student body actually started the movement. Then, student leaders joined together across Indiana and lobbied for the bill at the Indiana Statehouse.

"These students will have helped pass this vital statute which I think really speaks volumes for the leadership we've got young students in college stepping up and getting involved in the legislative process," Zoeller said.

The bill passed in the House Committee last week unanimously, and it cleared the Indiana Senate the same way.

Zoeller says the bill has every chance of being passed.

One major proponent of the bill is an Indiana prosecutor that lost a friend in college to alcohol poisoning.

When he heard about the bill, he called other prosecutors to make sure they were behind it.

The bill heads back to the Indiana House now for it's second reading.