Vermont law allows minors aged 12 and older who are verified by a licensed physician to be drug-dependent or alcoholic to consent on their own to medical treatment, hospitalization, and approved inpatient or outpatient SUD treatment programs without parental consent. The consent cannot be voided on the basis of the minor's age. Physicians must notify parents or guardians if the minor's condition requires immediate hospitalization due to drug use or alcoholism.
View official sourcePrint The Vermont Statutes Online The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly. NOTE : The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience. Statutes › Title 18 › Chapter 84 › § 4226 Title 18 : Health Chapter 084 : Possession and Control of Regulated Drugs Subchapter 001 : REGULATED DRUGS (Cite as: 18 V.S.A. § 4226) § 4226. Minors; treatment; consent (a)(1) If a minor 12 years of age or older is suspected to be dependent upon regulated drugs as defined in section 4201 of this title, to have venereal disease, or to be an alcoholic as defined in section 8401 of this title, and the finding of such dependency, disease, or alcoholism is verified by a licensed physician, the minor may give: (A) his or her consent to medical treatment and hospitalization; and (B) in the case of a drug dependent or alcoholic person, consent to nonmedical inpatient or outpatient treatment at a program approved by the Agency of Human Services to provide treatment for drug dependency or alcoholism if deemed necessary by the examining physician for diagnosis or treatment of such dependency or disease or alcoholism. (2) Consent under this section shall not be subject to disaffirmance due to minority of the person consenting. The consent of the parent or legal guardian of a minor consenting under this section shall not be necessary to authorize care as described in this subsection. (b) The parent, parents, or legal guardian shall be notified by the physician if the condition of a minor child requires immediate hospitalization as the result of drug usage, alcoholism, or for the treatment of a venereal disease. (Added 1971, No. 76; amended 1975, No. 143 (Adj. Sess.); 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 80.) Statutes Vermont Statutes Online Statutes Search Vermont Statutes at Lexis/Nexis Constitution Constitution of the State of Vermont Acts Acts & Resolves Acts Affecting VSA Sections Rules State Agency Rules at Lexis/Nexis Court Rules at Lexis/Nexis Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR)