[The American opioid overdose crisis: A threat for France?]

Abstract

Since the 2000s, a concerning increase in opioid-analgesic-related overdoses and deaths has been reported in the United States. In contrast with opioid overdoses reported in the 80-90s mostly involving heroin, currently it is the misuse of opioid analgesics that is mainly responsible for opioid overdoses. This crisis is related to factors (not limited to the US) which occurred during the 90s and which have led to a broad prescription of opioids in non-cancer pain. In Europe and France, there is (but to a much lesser extent) an increase in strong opioid consumption and in opioid prescription related morbi-mortality. This situation, which can be described as "worrying" today, requires awareness among the French medical community, both upstream (rational prescription of opioids) and downstream (optimal management of opioid poisoning) from the opioid prescription.

Keywords: Dépression respiratoire; Intoxication; Naloxone; Opioid; Opioïdes; Overdose; Poisoning; Respiratory depression.