Heroin and Other Opioids in Vermont

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Opioid Misuse & Dependence in Vermont

The percentage of Vermonters reporting prescription pain reliever misuse is going down significantly in Vermont, particularly for 18-25 year olds.

While past year heroin use prevalence remains under 1% for people 12 and older (as it does for all states), Vermonters in the 18-25 year-old age group have among the highest use rates in the country. A report from the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration found that in any given year almost 80% of new heroin users in America had misused prescription pain relievers.

The general pattern for Vermont is a lot like the national trend: prescription drug misuse has slowly gone down, access to treatment for those dependent on opioids has widened, and there has been an increase in disease and death associated with heroin use.

Vermont Response to Opioid Addiction

Public Health Strategies to Reduce Opioid Use Disorders 2017-2020
Public Health Strategies to Reduce Opioid Use Disorders 2019-2021

Treatment is Available

If you or someone you know needs help with heroin or other opioids – treatment is available! Treatment is effective and people can recover.

 To learn about treatment options, how to reach out to a counselor, and answers to common treatment and recovery questions, call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Vermont or visit Vermont2-1-1.org.

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Talking With Your Kids

It’s never too early to start a conversation with your kids about drugs and alcohol. When young people have supportive adults in their lives, they are much less likely to use drugs. Open, honest conversations are the best way to influence their behavior.
parent up vt logo and website

Here are some tips!

  • Start the conversation early to get ahead of the conversation.
  • Be clear, direct, and specific.
  • Have an ongoing, two-way dialogue.
  • Focus on their goals and explain how drugs can get in the way.
  • Stay positive.

For more tips, information on the risks of use, or if you are concerned that your child is using heroin or other opioids, call 2-1-1 from anywhere in Vermont, 24/7 or visit Vermont211.org and visit ParentUpVT.org.

For more information visit:

Data and Related Resources

Hub and Spoke Evaluation & Brief

Data and Reports: Information on opioid and other drug misuse, abuse, and dependence in Vermont.

How We Are Doing: Learn more about goals and outcomes being tracked in Vermont.

Naloxone Information

Information from National Experts