The opioid crisis is deepening. Credit: Zerbor, Shutterstock.
As international overdose awareness day approaches August 31, the scale of the opioid crisis in Europe, the UK and the US is highlighted.
Health agencies warn that overdose will continue to be the main preventable cause of death, opioids, which are at the heart of the worsening global emergency.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Globally, around 600,000 deaths were attributed to drug use in 2019. Nearly 80% of these deaths are related to opioids, and about 25% of deaths caused by opioid overdose.”
Opioids: Medicine and misuse
Opioids are a class of drugs that contain both prescription painkillers such as morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, and methadone, as well as illicit drugs such as heroin. Their misuse, originally valued for their powerful pain relief, has become the leading driver of drug-related deaths.
The WHO explains that their effects “causing breathing difficulties and can lead to death by overdose of opioids.” Misuse often starts with a prescription for chronic pain, but can be spiraled into addiction mixed with synthetic opioids like fentanyl, street use, or dangerous counterfeit drugs.
US Trends: Fentanyl
The United States remains the most intense country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded more than 80,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2023. This is a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more synthetic than morphine.
“You can get corrections by ordering online for cheaper and getting a much stronger dose, and I think that’s what’s happening today,” said Greg Nevano, assistant director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE).
According to law enforcement, fentanyl trafficking has changed in online sales and darknet markets, with fatal substances accessed after a few clicks. Even small doses can be fatal, and fentanyl is often mixed with heroin or sold as a counterfeit drug without user knowledge.
Viral videos of people with fentanyl in New York are online. It’s scary to say the least.
Europe’s growing cocaine crisis
In Europe, deaths from overdose are also rising. The European Union Drug Distribution (EUDA) reported that over 7,500 people died from overdose in the EU in 2023, rising to 8,100 when it included Norway and Türkiye.
Opioids were involved in more than two-thirds of these deaths. New synthetic opioids such as Nitazen promote development. In Latvia, drug-induced deaths skyrocketed from 63 in 2022 to 154 in 2023, with Nitazen present in 66% of cases. In Estonia, deaths jumped from 82 to 119, with 52% associated with Nitazenes.
Cocaine is also increasingly involved. In Portugal, cocaine was involved in 65% of drug-induced deaths, while in Spain it accounted for 60%. Importantly, opioids are also involved in most cocaine-related overdose, indicating the risk of multi-qualitative use.
UK and Naloxone
The UK has taken steps to expand access to naloxone, a life-saving drug that reverses opioid overdose. The WHO notes that several countries (such as Australia, Canada, Italy, and the UK) have introduced naloxone as an over-the-counter drug (in a specific setting) and have begun to actively promote it in the community.
But the gap remains. Access is inconsistent and drug use stigma continues to prevent people from seeking help. Scottish and British campaigners are seeking a wider distribution of pharmacies, prisons and schools.
International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31st
Every August 31st, Community Worldwide Mark International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose. The campaign theme for 2024, run by the Penington Institute, was “We Are Together.”
The 2024 IOAD Partners report recorded over 1,048 events in 42 countries, reaching 134,000 people on social media, and 67,000 landmarks are illuminated in purple.
The campaign “emphasises six guideline principles that must be prevented and prevented overdose.
New opioid alternatives for pain relief
Researchers are competing to find non-opioid alternatives to manage severe pain. At Kyoto University, scientists have developed Adriana, the world’s first selective α2B-adrenaproceptor antagonist.
“When commercialized, Adriana offers new opioid-independent pain management options, which will significantly contribute to reducing opioid use in clinical settings,” says Professor Hayashidajima of Kyoto University.
Clinical trials in Japan and the US are ongoing, raising hopes for a safer future in pain management.
Breaking the stigma
IOAD organizers emphasize that Stigma is one of the biggest killers. In Spain, Advocacy Group Metzineres has released a video calling for “safe consumption sites and wider naloxone access.”
A Barcelona participant said, “My highlight was the visibility of the importance of breaking stigma and discrimination, as it is essential to avoid increasing the risk of overdose death.”
The rise in overdose deaths in Europe, the UK and the US has led to increased pressure for governments to adopt harm mitigation strategies rather than punitive measures. The EU’s Drug Strategy 2021–25 lists overdose prevention as a top priority, with the EUDA spurring a larger distribution of naloxone, more treatment access and a gender-sensitive approach.
Future International Overdose Awareness Day 2025 reminds us that the person behind all statistics is someone whose lives have been lost too quickly.
The evidence is clear. Overdose is preventable, but thousands die each year. As WHO points out, “Death after an opioid overdose is preventable if the person receives basic life support and timely administration of the drug naloxone.”
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