Heroin and Other Opioids | Vermont Department of Health CLOSE Translations for you Heroin and Other Opioids Substance Use Information Alcohol Cannabis Heroin and Other Opioids Stimulants Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. Vermont's past year prescription opioid misuse is slightly lower than the U.S. average, while heroin use is slightly higher Source: State Level Data National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2022-2023 Help is available VT Helplink VT Helplink 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 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 people who are new to using heroin in the U.S. had misused prescription pain relievers. Vermont prescription drug misuse has slowly gone down and access to treatment for those dependent on opioids has increased (similar to the national trend). Learn more on the Opioid Overdose Dashboard. Health risks of opioid use short-term and long-term physical and mental effects Dependence and addiction Increased sensitivity to pain Constipation Nausea, vomiting, and dry mouth Sleepiness and dizziness Confusion Depression Slowed heart rate Difficulty breathing Death Reducing health risks of opioid use Opioids that have been prescribed to you: Don't drink alcohol while using opioids Talk with your doctor about minimum dosage and duration or about pain management alternatives to opioids Never share your prescription opioids Store opioids in a secure place and safely get rid of unused medication Learn more patient information. Reduce the risk of overdose: Avoid using alone Use new syringes Test for fentanyl Start with a small amount Carry naloxone (Narcan® nasal spray) and know how to use it Call 911 in case of overdose Learn more at KnowOD. More Info Opioid Overdose Response Initiatives Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Opioid Overdose Dashboard Substance Use Dashboard Substance Use Programs (DSU) Vermont Department of Health 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-8340 802-651-1550 [email protected] Topics: Alcohol/Drug Use Heroin and Opioid Drugs September 22, 2025