Know Opioid Overdose | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/alcohol-drugs/opioid-overdose-response/opioid-overdose-prevention
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:14
Know Opioid Overdose | Vermont Department of Health
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Know Opioid Overdose
Opioid Overdose Response
Know Opioid Overdose
Vermont's Response to Opioids
Prescription Opioids
If you think someone is experiencing an overdose,
give naloxone and call 9-1-1 immediately.
Call 9-1-1
Important Links
Get Help
Get naloxone
Get Fentanyl & Xylazine test strips
Group A strep infections
Increase in Cases of Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections are serious and may require hospitalization. There is an increased risk of infection for people who use drugs containing xylazine.
To prevent infection, keep wounds clean, moist, and covered. Seek medical care right away for wounds that may be infected (red, swollen, painful, or warm to touch) or if you have a fever, chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
Learn more
How to reduce the risk of an opioid overdose
Avoid using alone
If you overdose while alone, you can die. Let your family and friends know when you are using, show them how to use naloxone and keep it out while you’re using so it can be easily found.
If you have to use alone, call
877-696-1996
or chat at
NeverUseAlone.com
and someone will stay with you to make sure you are safe.
Call 877-696-1996
Use new syringes
New syringes reduce your risk of infections and help to protect vein health. New syringes and other materials for overdose prevention and injection safety can be found for free at Vermont’s syringe services programs.
Get new syringes
Test for fentanyl and xylazine with free test strips
Fentanyl and xylazine can be dangerous and are often found in opioids as well as other drugs like cocaine, meth and any other powder or pill. Test your drugs with easy-to-use test strips. They can’t tell you how much fentanyl or xylazine may be in your drug, but it can tell you if the sample you are testing has fentanyl or xylazine in it. Test strips are most effective when they are used every time you use. and are available at most syringe services programs.
Get test strips
Go slow
Start with a small amount to test drug strength. Going slow when using will help you be able to tell how strong your drug is and allow you to not use the full amount if it is stronger than you thought.
Carry Narcan® nasal spray (naloxone) and know how to use it
Naloxone saves lives.
Be sure to keep naloxone next to you while you use so it can be easily used if needed. Make sure that those around you know where your naloxone is and how to use it.
Get naloxone
Call 9-1-1
In case of overdose,
call 911
and help save a life.
Even if naloxone is given, it is important to call for emergency medical services. Naloxone does not stay in your body as long as opioids, so you could overdose again.
Vermont's Good Samaritan Law provides some protection for people who have overdosed and those who call 911 in case of an overdose emergency.
Call 9-1-1
Answers to your overdose questions
What is an overdose?
An overdose happens when too much of a drug enters your body, making it difficult for your body to process or clear out the drug. Overdoses from different drugs have different symptoms.
Opioid overdoses impact the ability to breathe. When opioids enter the body, they travel to the part of the brain responsible for telling the body to breathe. By sitting on those particular brain receptors, the opioid slows someone’s breathing. When too many of those brain receptors are covered in opioids, a person will not be breathing enough, or stop breathing completely.
What are the signs of an overdose?
There are a few signs to look for when you think someone is experiencing an overdose:
They are unconscious or not waking up
They don’t respond when you shout
They don't respond when you rub your knuckles on their breastbone or between their upper lip and nose
They are not breathing normally
They are breathing very slowly or not breathing at all
They are making snoring, choking or gurgling sounds
Signs of an overdose
What should you do if someone is experiencing an overdose?
Check for signs of an opioid overdose
Call 911
Give naloxone –
find out where you can get Naloxone
Start rescue breathing and chest compressions –
learn how
Stay with the person until they go to the hospital. Someone who was given naloxone may be at risk for another overdose.
Keep this information with you by
downloading this overdose card
.
How to administer naloxone
How to administer rescue breathing
How can xylazine mixed with opioids increase risk of overdose death?
Xylazine, a sedative used in veterinary medicine for large animals like horses and cows, is not approved for human use, but it has been increasingly found in fatal opioid overdoses.
When mixed with opioids xylazine can affect the respiratory system, making the symptoms of an opioid overdose much worse by slowing down your breathing much faster than with just opioids alone.
Narcan® (naloxone), a medicine that can reverse an overdose, may not be as effective when xylazine is present. This can mean a higher risk of death.
Download the KnowOD posters
"Avoid Using Alone" Poster
"Use New Syringes" Poster
"Go Slow" Poster
"Test for Fentanyl" Poster
"Carry & Use Narcan" Poster
"Call 911" Poster
Where can you find other helpful resources?
VT Helplink
is a free and confidential alcohol and drug support and referral service. Find information on accessing naloxone, syringe service programs and treatment and recovery programs.
Call
802-565-LINK (5465)
or toll-free
833-565-LINK (5465)
.
Available 24 hours a day, everyday
Free and confidential
You can also answer
quick and confidential questions
to get connected to the right services for you.
Visit VTHelplink.org
Contact Us
Substance Use Programs (DSU)
Vermont Department of Health
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-8340
802-651-1550
[email protected]
Topics:
Alcohol/Drug Use
|
Community Support
|
Emergency Response
|
Harm Reduction
|
Heroin and Opioid Drugs
Last Updated:
February 6, 2026
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Know Opioid Overdose
Opioid Overdose Response
Know Opioid Overdose
Vermont's Response to Opioids
Prescription Opioids
If you think someone is experiencing an overdose,
give naloxone and call 9-1-1 immediately.
Call 9-1-1
Important Links
Get Help
Get naloxone
Get Fentanyl & Xylazine test strips
Group A strep infections
Increase in Cases of Invasive Group A Strep Infections in Vermont
Invasive group A strep infections are serious and may require hospitalization. There is an increased risk of infection for people who use drugs containing xylazine.
To prevent infection, keep wounds clean, moist, and covered. Seek medical care right away for wounds that may be infected (red, swollen, painful, or warm to touch) or if you have a fever, chills or unexplained nausea or vomiting.
Learn more
How to reduce the risk of an opioid overdose
Avoid using alone
If you overdose while alone, you can die. Let your family and friends know when you are using, show them how to use naloxone and keep it out while you’re using so it can be easily found.
If you have to use alone, call
877-696-1996
or chat at
NeverUseAlone.com
and someone will stay with you to make sure you are safe.
Call 877-696-1996
Use new syringes
New syringes reduce your risk of infections and help to protect vein health. New syringes and other materials for overdose prevention and injection safety can be found for free at Vermont’s syringe services programs.
Get new syringes
Test for fentanyl and xylazine with free test strips
Fentanyl and xylazine can be dangerous and are often found in opioids as well as other drugs like cocaine, meth and any other powder or pill. Test your drugs with easy-to-use test strips. They can’t tell you how much fentanyl or xylazine may be in your drug, but it can tell you if the sample you are testing has fentanyl or xylazine in it. Test strips are most effective when they are used every time you use. and are available at most syringe services programs.
Get test strips
Go slow
Start with a small amount to test drug strength. Going slow when using will help you be able to tell how strong your drug is and allow you to not use the full amount if it is stronger than you thought.
Carry Narcan® nasal spray (naloxone) and know how to use it
Naloxone saves lives.
Be sure to keep naloxone next to you while you use so it can be easily used if needed. Make sure that those around you know where your naloxone is and how to use it.
Get naloxone
Call 9-1-1
In case of overdose,
call 911
and help save a life.
Even if naloxone is given, it is important to call for emergency medical services. Naloxone does not stay in your body as long as opioids, so you could overdose again.
Vermont's Good Samaritan Law provides some protection for people who have overdosed and those who call 911 in case of an overdose emergency.
Call 9-1-1
Answers to your overdose questions
What is an overdose?
An overdose happens when too much of a drug enters your body, making it difficult for your body to process or clear out the drug. Overdoses from different drugs have different symptoms.
Opioid overdoses impact the ability to breathe. When opioids enter the body, they travel to the part of the brain responsible for telling the body to breathe. By sitting on those particular brain receptors, the opioid slows someone’s breathing. When too many of those brain receptors are covered in opioids, a person will not be breathing enough, or stop breathing completely.
What are the signs of an overdose?
There are a few signs to look for when you think someone is experiencing an overdose:
They are unconscious or not waking up
They don’t respond when you shout
They don't respond when you rub your knuckles on their breastbone or between their upper lip and nose
They are not breathing normally
They are breathing very slowly or not breathing at all
They are making snoring, choking or gurgling sounds
Signs of an overdose
What should you do if someone is experiencing an overdose?
Check for signs of an opioid overdose
Call 911
Give naloxone –
find out where you can get Naloxone
Start rescue breathing and chest compressions –
learn how
Stay with the person until they go to the hospital. Someone who was given naloxone may be at risk for another overdose.
Keep this information with you by
downloading this overdose card
.
How to administer naloxone
How to administer rescue breathing
How can xylazine mixed with opioids increase risk of overdose death?
Xylazine, a sedative used in veterinary medicine for large animals like horses and cows, is not approved for human use, but it has been increasingly found in fatal opioid overdoses.
When mixed with opioids xylazine can affect the respiratory system, making the symptoms of an opioid overdose much worse by slowing down your breathing much faster than with just opioids alone.
Narcan® (naloxone), a medicine that can reverse an overdose, may not be as effective when xylazine is present. This can mean a higher risk of death.
Download the KnowOD posters
"Avoid Using Alone" Poster
"Use New Syringes" Poster
"Go Slow" Poster
"Test for Fentanyl" Poster
"Carry & Use Narcan" Poster
"Call 911" Poster
Where can you find other helpful resources?
VT Helplink
is a free and confidential alcohol and drug support and referral service. Find information on accessing naloxone, syringe service programs and treatment and recovery programs.
Call
802-565-LINK (5465)
or toll-free
833-565-LINK (5465)
.
Available 24 hours a day, everyday
Free and confidential
You can also answer
quick and confidential questions
to get connected to the right services for you.
Visit VTHelplink.org
Contact Us
Substance Use Programs (DSU)
Vermont Department of Health
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-8340
802-651-1550
[email protected]
Topics:
Alcohol/Drug Use
|
Community Support
|
Emergency Response
|
Harm Reduction
|
Heroin and Opioid Drugs
Last Updated:
February 6, 2026