Safer Use
Connect to harm reduction services
Harm reduction is about meeting people with care, not judgement. It is an approach that focuses on practical steps that reduce the risks of drug use, while honoring the dignity and rights of people who use substances. Whether you’re thinking about making a change towards recovery or you just want to stay safer right now, support is here.
Harm reduction can look like:
- Using less than usual – start low, go slow
- Not using alone
- Carrying and knowing how to use naloxone
- Using clean needles and safely disposing of used ones
- Testing your drugs for fentanyl
- Getting HIV and Hepatitis C counseling and testing
Syringe Service Programs (SSPs)
SSPs offer free supplies like new syringes, fentanyl test trips, and naloxone, along with vital services like wound care, Hepatitis C testing, and more. In Vermont, you can also request a mobile van to meet you where you are: on your terms, with no judgment.
Naloxone (Narcan® Nasal Spray)
Anyone can save a life with naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug. It’s easy to use, safe to carry, and widely available across Vermont. You can find naloxone in pharmacies, organizations, state-sponsored vending machines, and retailers across the state. You don’t need a prescription, and there’s no judgment – just support to help you be prepared in case of an emergency. Whether it’s for you or someone else, having naloxone on hand can make all the difference.
Harm Reduction Packs
Harm Reduction Packs include supplies that help you stay safer, like naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and more. You can pick them up at locations across the state or request a mobile van to deliver them directly to you – no questions asked.
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) use safe, FDA-approved medications along with counseling and behavioral therapies to support people with opioid use disorder. This approach addresses the whole person, and not just their symptoms, to help people feel better, stay connected, and work towards their goals. Recovery looks different for everyone, and MOUD can be an important part of that journey.
Video
Hear from Vermonters
Meet a few of the Vermonters working every day to support harm reduction in their communities. In these videos, real people share their experiences – from handing out lifesaving supplies like naloxone and fentanyl test strips to providing non-judgmental care and advocating for change. While unique, each story shows how harm reduction saves lives, spreads hope, and builds stronger communities.