Nigeria, April 7 -- The World Health Organization has rolled out updated recommendations aimed at strengthening the treatment of opioid dependence and improving how communities respond to overdose cases.

In a statement, the global health body stressed that opioid addiction remains a leading driver of illness and death worldwide. It revealed that about 316 million people used drugs in 2023, with roughly 61 million involved in the non-medical use of opioids.

Opioids, the organisation noted, continue to bear the heaviest burden of drug-related health complications, including fatal overdoses. Out of an estimated 600,000 drug-related deaths globally, approximately 450,000 are linked to opioid use.

The agency underscored the urgent need to ...