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The Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Consultant works with community groups, schools, human service agencies, hospitals, law enforcement, parents and youth. The purpose of this work is to educate communities about the risks of alcohol and other drug use and to reduce misuse among youth, young adults and adults through:

  • Community organizing

  • Program planning and consultation

  • Presentations and training

  • Community grants information and guidance

  • Information and referral

 

Prevention Works!

Community Organization Focuses on Preventing Alcohol and other Drug Use

Central Vermont New Directions Coalition provides coordination of prevention partnerships in your community. These partnerships aim to reduce underage drinking, binge drinking, prescription drug misuse and cannabis use by promoting municipal policy changes, providing opportunities for education and providing referrals to local resources.

Below are the community partners in your area. Contact them to find out what they do and how you can get involved!

Community Partners

Central Vermont New Directions Coalition was established in 1998 to serve the needs of youth and families in Washington County towns. The coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in youth substance use in our community. With the help of community members and organizations we are able to successfully educate and inform all demographics within our community.

Turning Point Center of Central Vermont helps people find, maintain, and enhance their substance abuse recovery by providing peer-based recovery supports to individuals and families; conducting educational programs that aid in building and enriching a healthy life; and maintaining a safe haven for sober recreation and social activities.

Central Vermont Medical Center is the primary health care provider for 66,000 people who live and work in the 26 communities of central Vermont. It provides 24-hour emergency care, with a full spectrum of inpatient (licensed for 122 beds) and outpatient services. CVMC’s professional staff includes over 200 physicians and 70 advanced practice providers representing 25 medical specialties.

Central Vermont Substance Abuse Services provides outpatient clinic support to people with a wide range of substance abuse and their families. We support adults and adolescents in the greater Washington County region.

Treatment Associates specializes in Medicated-Assisted Therapy (MAT) using prescription Suboxone (buprenorphine) for the treatment of opioid dependence including addiction to heroin and prescription pain narcotics. The MAT program consists of medication management, group and individual therapy and accountability requirements (urine screens, pill/film counts).

The Washington County Youth Services Bureau provides a wide range of innovative and effective programs that empower and enrich the lives of youth and families in Washington County, and provides leadership and support to other youth programs throughout Vermont.

 

Talking to Your Kids About Alcohol and Other Drugs

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Using alcohol and other drugs in early life can have a negative impact on your child’s health now, and later on by impacting proper brain development and creating other risks. You are their #1 influence. Parent Up Vermont has tips on how to start and continue to have conversations with your children early and often, no matter how awkward.

Prescription Drug Disposal

Properly storing and getting rid of unused prescription medications protects your loved ones and the environment. Here are three easy steps:

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1. LOCK: Store your medications in a lock box or locked medicine cabinet.
2. DROP: Drop off unused medication at a kiosk or at your local pharmacy or police stations. Find a location in your area.
3. MAIL:  Mail unused medication in a pre-paid envelope. Request a free mail-back envelope.

 

Treatment is Effective!

Treatment might look different depending on the level that you need. Find the type of treatment that is right for you or your loved one, what to expect, how soon you can get help and the treatment services specific to youth, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding and older adults on our Treatment Options page.

There are a number of treatment options in your community. Find them, as well as answers to common questions you may have about treatment in the Chittenden County Resource Guide.

 

People Recover!

There is no wrong door to recovery. It is a life-long journey that is not always a straight line. Find recovery opportunities and supports in your area on our Recovery page.

Washington and Orange counties are engaged in collaborative initiatives and capacity-building efforts that rally community partners to join forces in making long-term changes that build a culture of health for the whole community.

Substance Misuse Coalitions and other prevention partners across Vermont aim to reduce underage drinking, binge drinking, prescription drug misuse, and cannabis use in Vermonters age 12-25. Coalitions use evidence-based/evidence-informed and/or promising practices and the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) process and model in this work.