Vermont is a state most people think of when they think of Fall in New England. Covered bridges, hikes in the mountains, snowy winters, and maple syrup are all typical Vermont attributes. Unfortunately, in addition to all of these wonderful things in Vermont is a rampant drug use problem.
Vermont ranks first in the nation for illicit drug use. It ranks highest for nearly every type of drug, from marijuana to cocaine. The reason for its top ranking may be related to a few different things. The cold weather is cited often due to residents being relegated to their homes for a good portion of the year and boredom seeps in. Vermont is also fairly close in proximity to big cities like Boston and New York City. The liberal political landscape of Vermont may also play a role.
Barbara Cimaglio, the Vermont Department of Health’s deputy commissioner for alcohol and drug abuse cites marijuana use to be behind the high ranking of the state. 13 percent of Vermont’s residents reported using marijuana in the past month.
Drug trafficking from other states is a problem in Vermont. Many of the state's highways feed into larger cities in the Northeast. Drugs like heroin can be sold at a higher rate in Vermont with drug dealers passing through and selling off some of their supply to residents.
Vermont is taking its opioid problem seriously. The governor of Vermont in 2014, Peter Shumlin, used his state of the state address to talk about Vermont’s problem with drug abuse. He said, “The time has come for us to stop quietly averting our eyes from the growing heroin addiction in our front yards while we fear and fight treatment
facilities in our backyards.”
In 2013, the state legislature voted to begin a pilot program for distributing emergency overdose rescue kits containing Narcan to those who were most at risk of overdose. These kits have saved countless lives by being available to family members of those suffering from addiction.
How bad is the addiction problem in Vermont? Take a look at these sobering statistics.
Vermont Treatment Centers
Are you seeking help for yourself or a loved one struggling with addiction? Addiction treatment centers are available to free people from the chains of addiction. Our online database provides the most comprehensive listings for drug rehab centers in Vermont and across the U.S. Call our free help hotline to speak with a rehab advisor. Recovery is attainable. Call today or search our database to take the first step.
Vermont Addiction Statistics
Addiction Statistics in Vermont
- 15 percent of residents state they have used illicit drugs in the past month.
- Vermont ranked number one in the United States for marijuana use.
- 104 Vermont residents died from opiate overdoses in 2016.
- Half of the 104 deaths that occurred had fentanyl involved.
- Heroin was attributed to 51 deaths in 2016, up from 29 in 2015.
- Between 2004 and 2015 the number of opioid overdose deaths nearly doubled in the state.
- 80 percent of the state’s inmates were incarcerated due to drug crimes.
- The number of people being treated for heroin addiction in Vermont was up 770 percent in 2014 from 2000.
- Out of 626,000 residents in Vermont, an astounding 43,820 are heroin users.
- One-quarter of residents seeking treatment for heroin abuse are young adults.
Educating the public is the greatest prevention against the rise of drug addiction. These organizations are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of drug abuse:
No one sets out to become addicted to drugs and alcohol. If you or someone you know needs help to receive treatment for substance abuse addiction, call our counselors today. They can give you information about how to being the journey to recovery.
| Treatment Approaches | United States | Vermont |
| Substance abuse counseling approach | 99.2% | 100.0% |
| Relapse prevention | 96.3% | 95.7% |
| Cognitive behavioral therapy | 93.5% | 94.3% |
| Motivational interviewing | 92.3% | 92.9% |
| Anger management | 82.3% | 94.3% |
| Brief intervention approach | 81.5% | 85.7% |
| Trauma-related counseling | 78.0% | 82.9% |
| 12-step facilitation approach | 74.7% | 78.6% |
| Contingency management motivational incentive | 55.4% | 51.4% |
| Dialectical behavioral therapy | 52.3% | 57.1% |
| Rational emotive behavioral therapy | 46.7% | 40.0% |
| Martix Model | 43.6% | 47.1% |
| Community reinforcement plus vouchers | 12.5% | 14.3% |
| Payment/Insurance Accepted | United States | Vermont |
| Cash or self-payment | 91.8% | 93.1% |
| Private health insurance | 70.0% | 82.8% |
| Medicaid | 63.7% | 74.1% |
| Federal or any government funding for substance abuse programs | 53.1% | 65.5% |
| State financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid | 47.7% | 46.6% |
| Medicare | 33.8% | 46.6% |
| Military insurance e.g. TRICARE | 33.0% | 48.3% |
| Access to recovery ATR voucher | 9.9% | 6.9% |
| IHS Tribal Urban ITU funds | 6.9% | 12.1% |
| No payment accepted | 2.8% | 3.4% |
Our addiction resources are aggregated from national databases that exist to help individuals and families find relevant rehabilitation options in their communities.
If you are familiar with the organizations in our directory, we encourage the use of the ratings and reviews functionality of our site to share your feedback with others regarding available addiction treatment resources.
Treatment-Centers.net does not endorse nor directly support any organization in our directory. Those seeking rehab programs, treatment services, or recovery resources are encouraged to verify each provider’s licensing and accreditation.
