Opioid Overdose Prevention | Vermont Department of Health

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Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (such as prescription pain medication or heroin). When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. Naloxone has been used safely by medical professionals for more than 40 years to reverse the effects of opioids on the brain and respiratory system in order to prevent death.

Get Naloxone

The Health Department provides naloxone (Narcan®) and training through collaborations with community-based organizations. These partners distribute naloxone and provide overdose response training, opioid misuse prevention training and referrals to treatment across Vermont.

People who should carry naloxone:

People who use opioid drugs (either prescribed or illicit)
Those who interact with people who use drugs (like friends, family, and emergency personnel)

If you or someone you know is struggling with an opioid use disorder or is in treatment, you can get naloxone to carry or keep in your first aid kit at one of our partner distribution sites listed below.

The Good Samaritan Law provides some legal protection to anyone who gives naloxone or calls 9-1-1 in an overdose situation.

IF SOMEONE IS OVERDOSING, GIVE NALOXONE AND CALL 9-1-1

Get help now

Call 2-1-1 for free and confidential treatment and harm reduction resources or find information about Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment on this site.

VT Helplink is your statewide, public resource for finding substance use treatment and recovery services in Vermont. Helplink services are free and confidential. Find more information on VT Helplink services.

Recognize the signs of an opioid Overdose

Common overdose situations

When tolerance is down due to not using, for example after being in jail, detox or drug-free treatment
When drugs are mixed, especially with alcohol or benzodiazepines
When using alone

Check for signs of overdose

Person is unconscious or not waking up
Doesn’t respond to shouting or rubbing knuckles on breastbone or between upper lip and nose
Person is not breathing normally
- Breathing very slowly or not breathing
- Snoring, choking, or gurgling sounds

Take action to save a life

If you think someone may be experiencing an opioid overdose, follow these steps:

Check for signs of an opioid overdose.
Call 9-1-1.
Give naloxone.
Start rescue breathing and chest compressions.

Stay with the person until they go to the hospital. Someone who was given naloxone may be at risk for another overdose.

Find Naloxone in Vermont

The Health Department has partnered with a growing number of community-based organizations to distribute overdose rescue kits containing naloxone. Individuals can get naloxone as well as prevention and overdose response training designed and approved by the Health Department at these distribution sites.

TOWN	ORGANIZATION	CONTACT INFORMATION
Newport	North Country Hospital	189 Prouty Drive Newport, VT 05855 802-334-3210, Ext. 618
Berlin	Central Vermont Addiction Medicine	300 Granger Road Berlin, VT 05602 802-223-2003
Brattleboro	Groundworks Collaborative	60 Main Street Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-257-5415
Bellows Falls	Parks Place	44 School Street Ext. Bellows Falls, VT 05101
South Burlington	Howard Center – Chittenden Clinic	75 San Remo Drive So. Burlington, VT 05403 802-488-6450
Newport	BAART Behavioral Health Services	475 Union Street Newport, VT 05855 802-334-0110
Brattleboro	Habit Opco – Brattleboro	16 Town Crier Drive Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-258-4623
St. Albans	Howard Center – St. Albans	172 Fairfield Street St. Albans, VT 05478 802-524-7265
Burlington	Howard Center – Safe Recovery Program	45 Clark Street Burlington, VT 05401 802-488-6067
White River Junction	HIV/HCV Resource Center – Syringe Exchange Program	70 North Main Street White River Jct., VT 05001 802-295-1868 (M&Th 2:30-4:30 pm) 603-448-8887
Newport	Turning Point of Newport – Journey to Recovery Center	58 Third Street Newport, VT 05855 802-624-4156
St. Johnsbury	Kingdom Recovery Center	297 Summer Street St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 802-751-8520
Morrisville	North Central Vermont Recovery Center	275 Brooklyn Street, Suite 2 Morrisville, VT 05661 802-851-8120
Middlebury	Turning Point of Addison County	54 A1 Creek Road Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-4249
Bennington	Turning Point Center, Bennington	160 Benmont Avenue, 4th floor Bennington, VT 05201 802-442-9700
Barre	Turning Point of Central Vermont	489 North Main Street Barre, VT 05641 802-479-7373
Burlington	Turning Point of Chittenden County	191 Bank Street, Suite 200 Burlington, VT 05401 802-861-3150
St. Albans	Turning Point of Franklin County	182 Lake Street St. Albans, VT 05478 802-782-8454
Rutland	Turning Point Center of Rutland	141 State Street Rutland, VT 05701 802-773-6010
Hartford	Upper Valley Turning Point	200 Olcott Drive Hartford, VT 05001 802-295-5206
St. Johnsbury	Vermont CARES	1091 Hospital Drive St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 802-748-9061
Rutland	West Ridge Center for Addiction Recovery	1 Scale Ave., Building 10 Rutland, VT 05701 802-776-5800
Wells River	Little Rivers Health Care	65 Main St. Wells River, VT 05081 802-757-2325
Springfield	Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield	7 Morgan Street Springfield, VT 05156 802-885-4668
Burlington	UVM Student Health Services	425 Pearl Street, Ground Floor 332 Burlington, VT 05401 802-656-3350
Rutland	Rutland Free Clinic	145 State Street Rutland, VT 05701 802-775-1360
Windsor	Connecticut Valley Recovery Services	15 State Street Windsor, VT 05089 802-674-9400
Brattleboro	AIDS Project of Southern Vermont	15 Grove Street Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-254-4444
White River Junction	Bradford Psychiatric Association	220 Holiday Drive, Suite A White River Junction, VT 05001 802-281-6364
Brattleboro	Turning Point of Windham County	39 Elm Street Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-257-5600
Burlington	Howard Center – Act1/Bridge Program	802-488-6425
St. Albans	BAART Behavioral Health Services	10 Crest Road St. Albans, VT 05478 802-370-3545
St. Johnsbury	BAART Behavioral Health Services	1097 Hospital Drive St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 802-748-6166
White River Junction	Good Neighbor Health Clinic	c/o Laura Byrne 70 North Main Street White River Junction, VT 05001 802-295-1868
Burlington	UVM Center on Behavior and Health	Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine University of Vermont UHC-SATC, Room 1415 1 South Prospect Street Burlington, VT 05401 802-656-9987
Brattleboro	Brattleboro Retreat	Anna Marsh Lane P.O. Box 803 Brattleboro, VT 05302 802-258-4388
Montpelier	Treatment Associates, Inc.	73 Main Street Suite 27 Montpelier, VT 05602 802-225-8355
Swanton	Northern Tier Center for Health - Swanton Health Center	26 Canada Street Swanton, VT 05488 802-868-2454
Barre	Central Vermont Substance Abuse Services	100 Hospitality Drive Barre, VT 05641 802-223-4156
West Lebanon	Habit OPCO	254 Plainfield Road West Lebanon, NH 03784 603-298-2146
Randolph	Gifford Medical Center- Kingwood Health Center	1422 VT Route 66 Randolph, VT 05060 802-728-7709
Barre	People's Health & Wellness Clinic	533 North Main Street #5 Barre, VT 05461 802-479-1229
Morrisville	Treatment Associates, Inc.	65 Portland St. Morrisville, VT 05661 802-851-8220
Rutland	Bradford Psychiatric Association	199 Stratton Road Rutland, VT 05701 802-775-7798
Windsor	Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center	289 County Road Windsor, VT 05989 802-674-7224
Rutland	Vermont CARES	1 Scale Ave, Howe Center Bldg #18, Room #103 Rutland, VT 05701 802-748-9061
Barre	Vermont CARES	People's Health and Wellness Clinic 553 N Main Street #5 Barre, VT 05641 802-748-9061
Montpelier	Vermont CARES	29 Main Street #14 Montpelier, VT 05602 802-748-9061
Bristol	Mountain Community Health	61 Pine St., Building 4 Bristol, VT 05443 802-453-3911

Standing order & Vermont law

Standing Order

A standing order from the Commissioner of Health has been in effect since August 2016. The standing order allows any pharmacy to sell naloxone to any person who wants to have it, without a prescription. The order allows insurers and Medicaid to cover the cost so people do not have to pay out of pocket. The current order is effective through August 2025.

Standing Order for Distribution of Naloxone

Vermont Law for Health Care Professionals (18 VSA §§ 4240 (c))

This law allows health care professionals acting in good faith to prescribe, dispense and 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 – so long as the recipient of the opioid antagonist has completed a prevention and treatment training program approved by the Vermont Department of Health. Unless acting recklessly, with gross negligence or intentional misconduct, a health professional who prescribes, dispenses or distributes an opioid antagoinist under this section shall be immune from civil or criminal liability, regardless of whether the opioid antagonist was administered by or to the person for whom it was provided.

Good Samaritan State Law Protects Individuals

You must call 9-1-1 after giving naloxone/Narcan® if emergency services have not already been contacted. You are immune from civil or criminal liability for giving naloxone so long as you do not act recklessly, with gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

About Vermont's Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal Project

In 2019, 87 individuals administered naloxone in response to a perceived overdose; of those, 85 successful overdose reversals were reported. Learn more about this and other statistics in the latest data brief on naloxone distribution.

Email [email protected] for information on naloxone training or becoming a distribution site.

Shelf-life extension of Narcan from 24 months to 36 months

Please see the most recent information from the manufacturer on the Revised FAQ Shelf Life Extension and Updated Storage Conditions. In short, all Narcan stock should follow the expiration date printed on the individual blister pack.

Education materials

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