5th Edition of Addiction World Conference 2026

Abstract

Introduction: Opioid overdose has been one of the major reasons for drug related deaths. Worldwide, about 600 000 deaths were attributable to drug use in 2019 (1). Close to 80% of these deaths are related to opioids, with about 25% of those deaths caused by opioid overdose (1). Opioid overdoses that do not lead to death are several times more common than fatal overdoses. Opioid-related deaths make up the largest proportion of drug-related deaths across the UK, with an average of 40 deaths a week. In 2022, opioids were involved in: 73%, 60%, 82%, 60% of drug misuse deaths registered in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively (2). Undoubtedly there has been a spike in the number of fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses with the increased circulation of heroin mixed with contaminants like synthetic opioids (Fentanyl, Carfentanyl) which are 50-100 times more potent than Heroin (1). Hence, there was a need to increase the awareness about prevention of opioid related overdose especially based on their attitude and perception about harm minimisation for opioid overdose.
AIM: To understand the substance misuse service user’s attitude towards Opioid overdose harm minimisation.
Methodology:  A brief qualitative survey was given to the client’s attending Substance misuse service in Essex. 19 clients consented to take part in this survey where they answered 2 open ended questions, which were -

1. If you have one piece of advice to give to a friend on how to prevent opioid overdose, what would that be?
2. What are your ‘survival techniques’ to prevent opioid overdose?

The responses were collated, pooled and thematically analysed. 
Results and Discussion: The responses elicited from the study participants were broadly categorised into 2 themes surrounding the preventive and intervention aspects of harm minimisation. The following responses were elicited from the service users who participated in the study.

Most of the responses obtained were relevant to the problem of opioid related overdose and was in keeping with the professional advice given to Substance misuse service users (3,4). The responses obtained in the survey were included in the information leaflet and quoted verbatim so that the clients can identify with the information. Few responses like “Shake the bag-If you see something different, be careful” and “Keep stashes separate to avoid fiending” (Using more and more because it is there) are not the usual advice offered for harm minimisation, suggesting new learning that needs to be explored further. The above information was supplemented with further professional advice like how to identify signs of opioid overdose as well as the numbers to contact the emergency services and an information leaflet was created for improving awareness.
Conclusion:Having insight into the substance misuse clients understanding of the drug use problem helps to narrow the knowledge gap between drug users and health professionals. Creating information leaflets based on the service users input and quoting it verbatim is likely to make it more relevant as well as acceptable to them. There is a need to replicate this survey in geographically different settings in the country to study the generalizability of the responses obtained as well as to look for into new learning avenues.