Opioid Prescribing Rule

In 2017, Vermont enacted the Rule Governing the Prescribing of Opioids for Pain. This rule provides legal requirements for the appropriate use of opioids in treating pain in order to minimize opportunities for misuse and diversion and optimize prevention of addiction and overdose.

More information on the rule

Required Patient Handouts

Reduction and Discontinuation

Information for Patients

Resource for Patients

Prescription Opioid Awareness

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Rx Aware provides health risk information for people who have opioid prescriptions to reduce addiction and overdose. healthvermont.gov/RxAware

Handouts for Patients

The documents above have been translated into Arabic, Burmese, French, Kirundi, Nepali, Somali, and Spanish to provide to new Vermonter patients.

*Required by law to be distributed to patients receiving a new opioid prescription.

Prescription Drug Disposal

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Do Your Part provides ways people can properly and safely store and get rid of unused or expired prescription medication. healthvermont.gov/DoYourPart

Overdose Prevention

KnowOD

Know OD provides harm-reduction information for people who use opioids about preventing and reversing overdose. healthvermont.gov/KnowOD

Overdose Reversal Medication

Naloxone – known by the trade name Narcan® – is a medication that can easily reverse an overdose when administered as quickly as possible after an overdose. Vermont Law (18 VSA ß 4240 (c)) allows health care professionals to distribute an opioid antagonist to a person who is at risk of overdose – or to a family member, friend or other person in a position to help. Learn more about naloxone

VT Helplink alcohol and drug support center logo

VT Helplink alcohol and drug support center provides information, support and referrals for substance use treatment, recovery and harm-reduction services in Vermont. Find where you can get Narcan® and other overdose prevention resources. VTHelplink.org 

Medication for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUD)

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) (formerly known as Mediation Assisted Treatment or MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a whole-patient approach to the treatment of opioid use disorder.

MOUD Resources

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) 101 - An introduction to Medication Assisted Treatment (September 2021)

MOUD Resources
MAT Rules: Medication Assisted Therapy for Opioid Dependence Any buprenorphine or methadone prescriber is responsible for complying with these rules.
Provider Clinical Support System Resources for health professionals, patients and community. Includes consent documents as referenced in the MAT rule.
Opioid Treatment Screening Guidelines for Hubs The primary goal of MOUD is to improve overall patient wellness. It is recommended that a comprehensive screening for drugs misuse be completed upon entering opioid treatment programs.
MAT for Opioid Addiction: Fact Sheet MAT fact sheet including assessing the evidence, dosage and treatment limits, MAT and pregnancy and risks.
MAT Guidelines for Women who are Pregnant Recommendations for providers on the management of opioid dependence during pregnancy.
Morphine Milligram Equivalent Calculators

*DISCLAIMER: The links to morphine milligram equivalent calculators are placed here for the convenience of prescribers, dispensers, and patients. The State of Vermont did not design and does not maintain these calculators nor make any representation as to their accuracy. Relevant rules do not require the use of these, or any other, calculator. It is the responsibility of the prescriber to confirm calculations and to adhere to the limits imposed by any relevant rule or law and to exercise clinical judgement consistent with the standard of care

Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS)

The Vermont Prescription Monitoring System (VPMS) is a database of controlled substance prescriptions dispensed by Vermont licensed pharmacies that helps prescribers and pharmacists make better evidence-based clinical decisions and limit diversion. Learn more and access VPMS

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DSU sponsors substance use training and other workforce opportunities

Contact Us
Substance Use Programs (DSU)

Vermont Department of Health

108 Cherry Street, Suite 207
Burlington, VT

802-651-1550
[email protected]

Additional Resources
https://mat-decisions-in-recovery.samhsa.gov/
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SAMHSA Decisions in Recovery: Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
http://www.med.uvm.edu/ahec/workforceresearchdevelopment/toolkits-and-workbooks…
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University of Vermont College of Medicine Office of Primary Care & Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program Opioid Prescription Management Toolkit for Chronic Pain Sustainable Solutions for Vermont
https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Guidelines_At-A-Glance-508.pdf
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Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Implementing the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain