Prevention of overdoses
Project manager: Dagmar Hedrich
Framework
The European Union Drugs Strategy (2005-2012) encourages national action that gives greater emphasis to the reduction of adverse consequences of drug use. The EU Drugs Action Plan (2005-2008) sets the objective to reduce the number of drug-related deaths and to increase availability and access to harm reduction services that can play a role in preventing and reducing overdose-related morbidity and mortality.
In the European Union, each year between 7 000 and 8 000 acute drug deaths are reported. These deaths occur mainly among young individuals in their 20s or 30s with a history of injecting heroin use, and most are accidental overdoses. Injecting use of drugs is a major risk factor for fatal and non-fatal overdoses and in most cases of overdose deaths, opiates are present. However, polydrug use is very common and particularly the use of heroin in combination with other central nervous system depressants increases overdose risk. Drug users who have lost tolerance after a period of abstinence or reduced drug taking, and those who inject drugs alone, are at higher risk of dying from overdose.
A significant proportion of fatal and non-fatal overdoses could be avoided. Mortality risks from opioid overdose are substantially reduced among clients of methadone maintenance programmes. Innovative interventions in risk-settings such as prisons, and interventions that actively involve drug users themselves in overdose prevention and that increase their competence to manage overdoses they witness, are increasingly implemented.
This project aims at collecting, analysing and disseminating information about how heroin overdoses can be prevented and how those that occur can be managed better. The information shall support policy makers and practitioners in their efforts to develop and implement strategies and interventions to reduce drug-related deaths.
