WHO Fact Sheet: “Opioid Overdose” (29 August 2025)
Key Facts
- Opioids include natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic compounds that act on opioid receptors in the brain.
- Commonly used as potent analgesics (e.g., morphine, fentanyl, tramadol).
- Non-medical use, prolonged use, or misuse without medical supervision can lead to dependence and health complications.
- Their pharmacological effect on the central nervous system can cause respiratory depression and death.
- In 2019, around 600,000 drug-related deaths occurred worldwide; 80% were linked to opioids, and ~125,000 specifically to opioid overdose.
- Less than 10% of people with opioid dependence receive adequate treatment.
- Naloxone is an effective antidote when administered in time.
Definition and Context
- Opioids include morphine, codeine, heroin, fentanyl, methadone, buprenorphine, tramadol, among others.
- They are widely used in medicine for pain management and opioid dependence therapy, but also have strong euphoric effects, increasing misuse potential.
Identifying an Overdose
- Pinpoint pupils (severe miosis).
- Unconsciousness or markedly reduced level of consciousness.
- Respiratory difficulties: slow, irregular breathing or apnea.
Risk Factors
- Opioid use disorder.
- Intravenous injection.
- Resumption of use after a period of abstinence (e.g., post-prison release, post-treatment).
- High daily opioid doses (>100 mg morphine equivalent).
- Combined use with alcohol, benzodiazepines, anesthetics, or other respiratory depressants.
- Co-existing conditions: HIV, liver disease, respiratory illness, psychiatric disorders.
- Increased vulnerability in men, older adults, and people with low socioeconomic status.
Emergency Interventions
- Rapid recognition of the clinical triad.
- Immediate provision of basic and advanced life support.
- Timely administration of naloxone, a life-saving opioid antagonist.
- Community training and wider naloxone distribution programs have significantly reduced overdose deaths.
Who Commonly Witnesses an Overdose
- People at high risk of overdose.
- Family members or friends of regular opioid users.
- Health professionals, emergency responders, shelter staff, peer educators, and outreach workers.
Prevention
- Expand access to evidence-based opioid dependence treatment (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone).
- Rationalize and monitor opioid prescribing.
- Regulate dispensing and limit inappropriate over-the-counter sales.
- Broaden education and community support programs.
WHO Response and Strategic Action
- Promotes balanced opioid access for medical purposes while reducing misuse.
- Supports international control of synthetic opioids.
- Monitors fentanyl analogues through global surveillance and early-warning systems.
- Recommends overdose protocols: airway management, ventilation, naloxone administration, and post-event observation.
- S-O-S Initiative (2019–2020): distributed naloxone kits and trained communities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, with very high survival rates among overdose cases.
Optimized Summary
Concept
Opioids: natural or synthetic; essential for analgesia but high risk of dependence and fatal overdose.
Magnitude
2019: >600,000 drug-related deaths; 80% linked to opioids; 125,000 due to overdose.
Key Signs
Clinical triad: pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness, respiratory depression.
Risk Factors
Opioid dependence, injection use, relapse after abstinence, high doses, polydrug use, comorbidities.
Immediate Treatment
Basic/advanced life support + naloxone; expand community access.
Prevention
Safer prescribing, improved treatment access, regulation, education.
WHO Action
Regulation of synthetic opioids, monitoring of fentanyl analogues, naloxone promotion, and S-O-S programs.
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Hoja Informativa OMS / WHO Fact Sheet: “Sobredosis por Opioides / Opioid Overdose”
✍️ DrRamonReyesMD
(Actualizado: 29 de agosto de 2025)
Datos clave / Key Facts
ESPAÑOL
- Los opioides incluyen compuestos naturales, semisintéticos y sintéticos que actúan sobre receptores específicos del cerebro.
- Se emplean como analgésicos potentes (morfina, fentanilo, tramadol).
- El uso no médico o sin supervisión aumenta el riesgo de dependencia.
- Su efecto depresor sobre el sistema nervioso central puede provocar insuficiencia respiratoria fatal.
- En 2019, hubo unas 600 000 muertes relacionadas con drogas; 80 % vinculadas a opioides y ~125 000 por sobredosis.
- Menos del 10 % de quienes padecen dependencia reciben tratamiento.
- La naloxona revierte eficazmente la sobredosis si se administra a tiempo.
ENGLISH
- Opioids include natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic compounds acting on brain opioid receptors.
- Commonly used as potent analgesics (morphine, fentanyl, tramadol).
- Non-medical or unsupervised use increases the risk of dependence.
- Their depressant effect on the central nervous system can cause fatal respiratory failure.
- In 2019, ~600,000 drug-related deaths occurred; 80% linked to opioids, ~125,000 due to overdose.
- Less than 10% of people with dependence receive treatment.
- Naloxone effectively reverses overdose if administered promptly.
Definición y contexto / Definition and Context
ESPAÑOL
Los opioides abarcan morfina, codeína, heroína, fentanilo, metadona, buprenorfina y tramadol. Tienen usos médicos esenciales, pero también alto potencial de abuso debido a sus efectos euforizantes.
ENGLISH
Opioids include morphine, codeine, heroin, fentanyl, methadone, buprenorphine, and tramadol. They are essential medicines, but their euphoric effects increase misuse potential.
Identificación de la sobredosis / Identifying an Overdose
ESPAÑOL
- Pupilas puntiformes (miosis extrema).
- Inconsciencia.
- Depresión respiratoria: respiración lenta, irregular o apnea.
ENGLISH
- Pinpoint pupils (extreme miosis).
- Unconsciousness.
- Respiratory depression: slow, irregular breathing or apnea.
Factores de riesgo / Risk Factors
ESPAÑOL
- Trastorno por consumo de opioides.
- Administración por inyección.
- Recaída tras abstinencia (post-prisión o post-tratamiento).
- Dosis elevadas (>100 mg equivalentes de morfina/día).
- Uso combinado con alcohol o depresores respiratorios.
- Enfermedades concomitantes: VIH, hepatopatías, enfermedades respiratorias, trastornos psiquiátricos.
- Mayor riesgo en hombres, adultos mayores y niveles socioeconómicos bajos.
ENGLISH
- Opioid use disorder.
- Intravenous injection.
- Relapse after abstinence (post-prison or post-treatment).
- High doses (>100 mg morphine equivalent/day).
- Combined use with alcohol or respiratory depressants.
- Co-existing conditions: HIV, liver disease, respiratory illness, psychiatric disorders.
- Higher risk in men, older adults, and those with low socioeconomic status.
Intervenciones en emergencias / Emergency Interventions
ESPAÑOL
- Reconocimiento rápido de la tríada clínica.
- Soporte vital básico y avanzado.
- Administración inmediata de naloxona.
- Programas comunitarios de capacitación y acceso a naloxona reducen significativamente la mortalidad.
ENGLISH
- Rapid recognition of the clinical triad.
- Provision of basic and advanced life support.
- Immediate administration of naloxone.
- Community training and expanded naloxone access significantly reduce mortality.
Quiénes presencian sobredosis / Who Commonly Witness Overdose
ESPAÑOL
- Personas en riesgo.
- Familiares y amigos.
- Profesionales de la salud, equipos de emergencia, trabajadores sociales y de albergues.
ENGLISH
- People at risk.
- Family and friends.
- Health professionals, emergency responders, social workers, and shelter staff.
Prevención / Prevention
ESPAÑOL
- Ampliar acceso a tratamientos basados en evidencia (metadona, buprenorfina, naltrexona).
- Racionalizar la prescripción médica.
- Regular la dispensación y limitar ventas inadecuadas.
- Ampliar educación y programas comunitarios.
ENGLISH
- Expand access to evidence-based treatments (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone).
- Rationalize medical prescribing.
- Regulate dispensing and limit inappropriate OTC sales.
- Strengthen education and community programs.
Respuesta de la OMS / WHO Strategic Response
ESPAÑOL
- Promueve acceso equilibrado a opioides para fines médicos, evitando abuso.
- Control internacional de opioides sintéticos.
- Monitoreo global de análogos del fentanilo.
- Protocolos: vía aérea, ventilación, naloxona y observación.
- Iniciativa S-O-S: distribución de naloxona y formación comunitaria, con alta efectividad en salvar vidas.
ENGLISH
- Promotes balanced access to opioids for medical purposes while minimizing abuse.
- Supports international control of synthetic opioids.
- Global monitoring of fentanyl analogues.
- Protocols: airway, ventilation, naloxone, and observation.
- S-O-S initiative: naloxone distribution and community training, with high survival rates.
Resumen optimizado / Optimized Summary
Concept / Concepto
Opioids: essential analgesics, but high risk of dependence and fatal overdose.
Magnitude / Magnitud
2019: >600,000 drug-related deaths; 80% linked to opioids; 125,000 due to overdose.
Key Signs / Signos clave
Clinical triad: pinpoint pupils, unconsciousness, respiratory depression.
Risk Factors / Factores de riesgo
Dependence, injection, relapse after abstinence, high doses, polydrug use, comorbidities.
Immediate Treatment / Tratamiento inmediato
Basic/advanced life support + naloxone; expand community access.
Prevention / Prevención
Safer prescribing, treatment access, regulation, education.
WHO Action / Acción OMS
Regulation, surveillance of fentanyl analogues, naloxone promotion, S-O-S programs.
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