Key findings
• In 25 OECD countries for which data are available, the average of opioid-related deaths (ORD) has increased by more than 20% in 2011-2016, with the rise most pronounced in the United States, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, and England & Wales.
• The average availability of prescription analgesic opioids has been steadily growing in the past 15 years across the OECD. There was a boom in the last decade. Between 2002-04 and 2005-07, analgesic opioids availability grew on average by more than 58% and almost 110% in the decade. More recently, between 2011-13 and 2014-16, the growth rate dropped to around 5% on average.
• Opioid overprescribing is considered one of the most important root causes of the crisis. In the United States alone, there were 240 million opioid prescriptions dispensed in 2015, nearly one for every adult in the general population. The influence of pharmaceutical manufacturers on pain management has been considered significant, by conducting marketing campaigns targeted mainly at physicians and patients, downplaying the problematic effect of opioids.
• Illicit opioids constitute a significant product of international illicit trade. Heroin is a semi-synthetic opiate synthesised from morphine and is the most prevalent illicit opioid worldwide. Approximately twice as potent as morphine, heroin has a high potential for problematic use. In recent years, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues have become much more prominent in the illicit drugs scene in many countries.
• The opioid crisis is not only a health crisis. It also has social and law enforcement dimensions. Economic and social conditions, such as unemployment, housing, exclusion and stigma are also linked to the issue.
• Countries can consider four key areas for a better approach to dealing with opioid use and harms: better prescribing practices and opioid-related literacy; better care expanding access to treatment and harm minimisation interventions; better approach across the health, social and criminal justice systems; and better knowledge and research for supporting decision-making at all levels.