SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Gov. Pat Quinn this afternoon signed into a measure bill that will give immunity from prosecution to people who call 911 to report drug overdoses.

The measure is meant to address scenarios in which friends let friends die from overdoses rather than risk being arrested themselves for drug use after calling for emergency help.

The measure (SB1701) touched a nerve last year in the House, where many law-and-order conservatives opposed it as being too lenient on drug abusers.

Advocates noted that Illinois is one of the few states with more overdose deaths than traffic fatalities, and said many of those overdose victims could have been saved had the people with them not been afraid to call for help.

The law will go into effect June 1.