Substance Use Resources & Overdose Prevention

We want to remind the community that our Safe Recovery Program provides:

  • free and anonymous Narcan ® (Naloxone) overdose reversal kits
  • free and anonymous Fentanyl and Xylazine test strips

Safe Recovery is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Individuals do not need to have an appointment to receive services. For more information, call Safe Recovery at 802-488-6067 during business hours as above. In the event of an overdose, please call 911.

Important Phone Numbers: Our Access and Intake Main Number 802-488-6000 is available M-F 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Our staff will help you find the services that best fit your need. Our First Call for Chittenden County crisis hotline 802-488-7777 is available 24/7/365.

Substance use programs and resources for adults

Substance use programs and resources for children & youth

Recently, Vermont law enforcement, Howard Center, and other public health leaders joined together to urge Vermonters to call 9-1-1 if an overdose occurs to save people’s lives. Vermont’s Good Samaritan Law provides protections from criminal liability for those who call for help from the scene of an overdose.


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OVERDOSES

If you think someone is experiencing a drug related overdose, contact 911 immediately.
It’s not always easy to tell whether someone is experiencing a drug overdose. However, if you are worried that they are experiencing an overdose, you should
• Stay with the person. Don’t leave them alone.
• Try to keep them awake, and if necessary, help them to walk around.
• Monitor their breathing.

HOW CAN I TELL IF SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE?

Overdose symptoms may include:
• inability to speak
• loss of muscle control
• pale or clammy face
• fingernails and lips may turn blue or dark purple (light-skin people) or gray or ash (dark-skin people)
• slow or erratic pulse or heartbeat
• choking or gurgling sounds
• vomiting
• unconscious
• unresponsive to stimulus


Whether you are trying to quit a substance for the first time or whether you’ve tried several times before, we’re here to help. We offer a variety of services and programs, including counseling, residential programs, and short and long-term treatment.

Counseling

Howard Center’s Intensive Outpatient Program helps individuals who are beginning the recovery process and require an enhanced level of care to achieve or maintain sobriety. The program provides intensive support for anyone who is making the transition from residential or community based treatment or for those who need more than weekly individual and/or group counseling can offer.
Services are provided at two locations:

Burlington: 802-488-6140
St. Albans: 802-524-7265


Other Resources and Information

Substance use resources for adults

Substance use resources for children and youth

Vaping, E-cigarettes and JUUL: The Facts Behind the Smokescreen

Safe Injection Sites: Part of the Opiate Solution?

Marijuana: Legalization or Not?

Understanding Opioid Addiction

Click here for more information on opiates, substance use disorder, and additional resources.