Key facts

• Opioids are psychoactive substances derived from the opium poppy, or their synthetic analogues. Examples are morphine and heroin.
• About 275 million people worldwide (5.6 per cent of the global population aged 15–64 years) used drugs at least once during 2016. Among them, there were about 34 million people who used opioids and about 19 million who used opiates.
• There were an estimated 27 million people who suffered from opioid use disorders in 2016. The majority of people dependent on opioids used illicitly cultivated and manufactured heroin, but an increasing proportion used prescription opioids.
• Roughly 450,000 people died as a result of drug use in 2015. Of those deaths, about 160 thousands were directly associated with drug use disorders and about 118 thousands with opioid use disorders.
• Overdose deaths contribute to between roughly a third and a half of all drug-related deaths, which are attributable in most cases to opioids. Lifetime prevalence of witnessed overdose among drug users is about 70%.
• There are effective treatments for opioid dependence yet less than 10% of people who need such treatment are receiving it.
• Due to their pharmacological effects, opioids in high doses can cause respiratory depression and death.
• The inexpensive medication naloxone can completely reverse the effects of opioid overdose and prevent deaths due to opioid overdose.

Reference

1. http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/information-sheet/en/

People with severe mental disorders, such as severe depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, generally die 10-20 years earlier than the general population. Most of these premature deaths are due to physical health conditions that could be prevented with better access to quality health services.

WHO has released evidence-based guidelines to help manage physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or hepatitis in adults with severe mental disorders.

Reference

1. https://mailchi.mp/who.int/new-global-commitment-to-primary-health-care-for-all-934885?e=89f4091f96

Key facts

• One in six people are aged 10–19 years.
• Mental health conditions account for 16% of the global burden of disease and injury in people aged 10–19 years.
• Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases are undetected and untreated.
• Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15–19 year olds.
• The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
• Mental health promotion and prevention are key to helping adolescents thrive.

Reference

1. http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health