he health department – Through the Directorate General of Addiction, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis (SGAVIH) of the Catalan Public Health Agency – to participate in the commemoration International Overdose Awareness Day, celebrated on August 31 every year.The day aims to raise awareness among citizensFatal effects of drug overdose drug And inform key personnel how to take action to prevent them.
Affected people are mostly men in their 40s who take multiple substances at the same time
in Catalonia, 70% of deaths Due to an acute reaction to a psychoactive substance – overdose – Happened at home. adequate information and Quick action could save overdoseTherefore, prevention and care education for those who live with drug users is very important.
downtrend
Production in Catalonia in 2021 159 deaths According to the General Directorate of Addiction, due to acute reaction to psychoactive substances (RASUPSI). The figure is the lowest since 2017, when the indicator was registered and registered. 200 dead Due to overdose.These figures confirm the downward trend that started in 2020 182 deaths19% less than the previous year.
Data on overdose deaths suggest that they were mainly The average age of men is 44 years old.In most cases, people have Concomitant use of multiple substancesthe most common of which are cocaine, opioids, hypnotics, sedatives, and alcohol.
lie on your side and call 112
Commemorating this International Day offers an opportunity understand the risks (Concurrent use of substances such as alcohol and hypnotics) and overdose symptoms (confusion, respiratory failure, cyanosis) Know how to act in such situations. Place personnel as soon as possible Lie on your side and call 112 Avoiding death from an overdose can be decisive.
This publicity day is also a Less chance of stigma This involves drug addicts and honors those who have lost their lives. Drug use and overdose deaths remain a major problem worldwide, and awareness is key for those experiencing it and their families.
Catalan pioneer in harm prevention and reduction
Catalonia is a pioneer in this regard Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention Policy People who inject drugs. Since 2009, the Division of Addiction, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Viral Hepatitis has coordinated the overdose prevention program, which operates in addiction care and follow-up centers (CAS), harm reduction services, treatment rooms, supervised drug use and therapeutic community implementation.
At present, Catalonia has 15 supervised consumption rooms, which serve nearly 2,500 people and consume more than 100,000 times a year.Notably, none of the overdose incidents that occurred in these spaces resulted in fatalities, that is Overdose deaths are preventable if timely action is taken.
References at the European level
Catalonia’s overdose prevention program is Benchmarks at European and national level; included in Ministry of Health National Medicines Strategy and is recognized by international organizations such as European Observatory on Drugs and Drug Addiction.
Observatory recognizes effectiveness of training program Use of naloxone As a key strategy in reducing opioid overdose deaths, along with consumption chambers and opioid agonist treatment programs.They have been trained in Catalonia from the beginning of the project (2009) until 2022 14,551 people as active identifiers Naloxone overdose was treated and a total of 15,914 vials were distributed.