Opioids (i.e. opium, heroin and prescription pain relievers) rank third in
the world among drug classes in terms of
the number of users. Opioid dependence
has a worldwide prevalence that ranges
from 0.6 to 0.8% and opioid consumption and the demand for treatment for
dependence are highest in Europe and
Asia.
Opioid users are at particularly
high risk of death from overdose. Those
who inject opioids also face the risk of
infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the hepatitis C
virus (HCV) as a result of unsafe injecting behaviour.
2,3