Access saves lives: Opioid overdose treatment

Revised September 2019

To mark the 2019 International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, the International AIDS Society launched the publication of a new policy brief: “Access saves lives: Opioid overdose treatment.” (PDF, 1.2MB) This document—supported by NIDA, outlines the extent of opioid deaths worldwide and underscores how these could be prevented by enhanced and timely access to Naloxone, an effective antidote that reverses an opioid overdose if administered quickly enough. It is the third – and latest – policy brief in the series on inclusive care services and policies for people who use drugs that was launched on World Hepatitis Day in 2018. This policy brief is designed to be a important resource to support local advocacy efforts on the link between HIV AIDS and substance use.