Opioid-related deaths: health and social responses

ENGLISH:
This miniguide is one of a larger set, which together comprise Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide. It provides an overview of the most important aspects to consider when planning or delivering health and social responses for older people using drugs, and reviews the availability and effectiveness of the responses. It also considers implications for policy and practice.
Key issues:
Mortality directly or indirectly related to the use of opioids is a major cause of avoidable premature deaths among adults in Europe, with drug-related mortality rates estimated at around 1-2 % per year among people who inject opioids. Overall, opioids are detected in more than three quarters of fatal overdoses in Europe. The risk of dying from an opioid overdose increases following periods of abstinence when tolerance is lost, in particular on release from prison or on leaving abstinence-based treatment.
Suicide, accidents and complications from infections also contribute to the excess mortality observed in this group. Studies have also shown that people who use opioids may suffer from higher-than-expected rates of certain non-communicable diseases, including some cancers and cardiovascular problems. An association between opioid-related problems and other substance use issues, such as smoking or high levels of alcohol use, may partly explain this observation.
FRANÇAIS :
Ce mini-guide s'inscrit dans le cadre plus vaste du document intitulé "Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide" (Réponses sanitaires et sociales apportées aux problèmes de drogue: un guide européen). Il fournit une vue d'ensemble des aspects les plus importants à prendre en considération lors de la planification ou de la mise en œuvre de réponses sanitaires et sociales face aux décès dus aux opioïdes et examine la disponibilité et l'efficacité de ces réponses. Il examine également les conséquences sur les plans politique et pratique.