PREVENTION

Connect to prevention resources

Everyone can help prevent substance misuse. Prevention isn’t just about avoiding drugs – it’s about helping people, families, and communities stay healthy. It includes stopping substance misuse, overdoses, misinformation, stigma, and the recurrence of substance use disorders before they start.   

Prevention can happen anywhere– in schools, at home, in communities and workplaces, and in everyday conversations. It can mean teaching kids how to manage stress, creating safe places for connection, offering support early, or making sure people have accurate information and access to care. Policies that support mental health, housing, and economic stability play a role in prevention, too. When we invest in prevention, we build a healthier, more resilient Vermont for everyone.

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Community Prevention Programs

Every community can benefit from substance misuse prevention, but no two communities are exactly the same. Each community has its own needs, challenges, and strengths. Prevention efforts in Vermont are rooted in local voices, local data, and community-led solutions. By bringing together prevention professionals and community members, these efforts are designed to respond to the needs of the community, address specific local challenges, and build on Vermont’s resilient networks. Learn more about how prevention works in Vermont through Prevention Works! VT and Vermont Prevention Lead Organizations, and find support near you through your Local Health Office or Prevention Consultants.

National Prevention Resources

Vermont’s prevention efforts are part of a broader movement supported by national organizations that share the same goals. These groups offer valuable tools, research, and resources to help support prevention efforts across the country and help communities thrive. Visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and CADCA to explore national prevention resources.

Prescription Medication

Storing and disposing of prescription medications safely helps protect everyone in your home – family, friends, kids, and even pets – from accidental or intentional misuse. You can order a free drug disposal envelope or drop off unused medications at a local disposal kiosk to make sure they’re removed safely. Learn what to do if you find a discarded needle, and visit Prescription Opioid Awareness for more information on safe use and understanding the risks.

Save a life

Know the signs and what to do for an opioid overdose

Opioid overdoses are preventable – and knowing what to look for can save a life. An overdose happens when someone takes too much of an opioid or mixes it with alcohol or other drugs. Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. In high amounts, they can cause breathing to stop entirely, leading to brain injury or death. But knowing how to recognize the signs and respond to an overdose can protect you, your loved ones, and your community.

An overdose can happen within minutes to several hours after using opioids. Here are the signs to look for: 

  • Breathing that is slow or shallow, or no breathing at all 
  • Very sleepy, or sleeping, and not responsive to your voice or touch 
  • A person with lighter skin might have skin that looks blue or grayish, with dark lips and fingernails. A person with darker skin might have gray or purple lips and skin, and bright white nail beds. 
  • Irregular snoring, choking, or gurgling sounds (known as “death rattle”) 

Learn more about the signs of overdose.

Learn these five life-saving steps and encourage others to learn them, too: 

  1. Check for overdose. Tap, shake, or shout at the person to get a response. If they don’t respond, rub your knuckles hard on their chest. If they still don’t respond, they are probably experiencing an overdose. 
  2. Call 9-1-1. Tell the dispatcher the person isn’t breathing, and you think they’re having an overdose. Give your location and stay with the person until help arrives. Vermont’s Good Samaritan law protects both the person who overdoses and the people helping them from being prosecuted for possessing drugs or paraphernalia, giving naloxone, or violating restraining orders or probation.
  3. Give naloxone, if you have it. Naloxone is an overdose reversal spray – learn how to administer it. Be ready to give a second dose if the person does not wake up 3 minutes after getting the first dose. 
  4. Give rescue breaths. Clear the person’s mouth, tilt their head back, lift their chin, and pinch their nose. Give 1 breath every 5 seconds. While naloxone can reverse an overdose, it doesn’t provide oxygen, and it is critical to keep the person’s brain and body alive until they start breathing on their own.  
  5. Stay until help arrives. If the person is not breathing well, keep giving rescue breaths until help arrives. If they start breathing on their own, put them on their side. Do not leave them alone until emergency help arrives.

There are several easy and confidential ways for Vermonters to get naloxone: 

  1. Programs that offer naloxone: You can get naloxone at no cost through statewide Harm Reduction Packs, which include naloxone, treatment and recovery information, fentanyl test strips, and self-care items. These sites carry Harm Reductio Packs. You can also get naloxone through the Vermont Opioid Overdose Prevention and Reversal Project. These sites have naloxone and offer training on overdose prevention and response. They also offer training on overdose prevention and response. Additionally, emergency medical services (EMS) workers always carry naloxone, and some police officers carry it, too.
  2. Pharmacies: You can buy naloxone at any pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription, thanks to Vermont’s “standing order” that started in 2016. Insurance and Medicaid often cover the cost, so you may not need to pay out of pocket, though some copays may apply. A pharmacist can show you how to use naloxone right at the pharmacy. 
  3. Naloxone Vending Machines: Vermont now has public vending machines that provide free naloxone alongside other health supplies. These vending machines were unveiled in 2023, and are currently in three towns: Johnson, Bennington, and Middlebury with a fourth opening in Bristol late summer of 2025.  
  4. Mail-Order Kits: Since October 2023, anyone with a Vermont address can order a free naloxone kit and have it mailed right to their door. Kits include two doses of naloxone, fentanyl test strips, instructions for use, and treatment information. Delivery typically takes one week. Request a kit.

Find support

Resources for youth, families, and older adults

Substance use affects people differently, and some groups – such as youth, pregnant individuals and families, and older adults – face greater risks. It’s important to tailor prevention strategies to meet the unique needs of each group. Through family education, school-based programs, and community outreach, targeted support can reduce harm and promote overall well-being.

Helping young people avoid or delay substance use can lead to better health and well-being later in life. Research shows that the earlier someone starts using alcohol or other drugs, the greater their risk of developing substance use issues later in life. That’s why families, schools, and communities all play a key role in prevention. To learn more about local and national efforts, explore programs like the Getting to “Y” Program, Our Voices Xposed (OVX), Youth.gov, and Vermont Department of Health Family Programs.

Reducing substance exposure during pregnancy helps support the health and development of both parent and baby. Programs like MyTime offer support for pregnant and parenting people who are navigating recovery or substance use. Prevention also plays a key role in parenting and family life – parents and caregivers strongly influence the choices children make around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Explore tools that support healthy family communication at Let’s Talk Cannabis, One More Conversation, and Parent Up. You can also order free prevention resources, and find information on HIV, STI, and Hepatitis to support overall wellness during pregnancy and parenting.

As we age, our bodies become more sensitive to alcohol and other drugs- even small amounts can have a stronger effect and may increase health risks or interact with medications in harmful ways. Substance misuse among older Vermonters is increasing, which makes awareness and prevention especially important. Learn how aging can affect substance use, and explore resources like Vermont Department of Health – Substance Use in Older Adults, the NIH Drug Facts – Substance Use in Older Adults, and your local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA’s).