G.D. Hancock, Ph.D.
Vermont has one law on supplying drugs that cause a death.
Selling or dispensing a regulated drug in violation of the drug laws when the person's use of it is the proximate cause of their death. It is no defense that the substance contained more than one drug.
A person who in good faith and promptly seeks medical help for someone overdosing, and the person who overdosed, cannot be cited, arrested or prosecuted for any violation of Vermont's regulated-drug chapter, which includes the death-resulting law, or for some underage-alcohol offenses, and are protected from probation and parole sanctions on those grounds.
Statute: Vt. Stat. tit. 18, § 4254
Does calling for help protect against the drug-death charge? Yes.
Vermont's Good Samaritan law covers every offense in its regulated-drug chapter, which includes the death-resulting law, for a person who seeks help promptly and in good faith.
Whatever the law says, if someone is overdosing, call 911. A life comes first. More on calling 911.
Federal law applies in every state. When death or serious bodily injury results from using a Schedule I or II drug that a person distributed, federal law sets a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life. Federal prosecutors can bring this charge whatever the state law says. (21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A)-(C))
3 cases in the published sample of the drug-induced homicide case database were prosecuted in Vermont. The database is still being built; the complete version will be published when it is finished.
This page describes what the statutes say, as of 7 October 2026. It is not legal advice, and it can’t tell you how a court will apply the law to any particular case. Laws change; check the statute, and please speak to a lawyer in Vermont about your own situation.