Overdose Prevention
Over the last 20 years, drug overdose deaths have increased significantly in many parts of the world.
About our overdose prevention work
As part of their work with the Partnership for Healthy Cities, urban centers are working to prevent opioid-associated overdose deaths by:
Establishing and scaling naloxone distribution program
Establishing and scaling community-based harm reduction services (e.g. syringe exchange, drop-in centers)
Expanding low-barrier access to medication treatment
In 2019, an estimated 600,000 deaths were attributable to drug use around the world.
Close to 80% of these deaths are related to opioids, with about 25% of those deaths caused by opioid overdose.
Explore further
With support from the Partnership, the city has implemented widely recognized harm reduction programs.
Read more about risk factors for opioid overdose in this webpage from the World Health Organization.
One of five fact sheets published by Vital Strategies explaining interventions needed to end the overdoses crisis.