WHO-UNODC “Stop Overdose Safely (S-O-S)” initiative

Overdose is the leading cause of avoidable death among people who inject drugs. 

The ‘Stop Overdose Safely’ is a joint initiative from UNODC and the World Health Organization (WHO) to address opioid overdose and provide life-saving medications to those in need. The initiative serves as a platform for exchange and mutual support to effectively prevent and manage overdose.

The S-O-S initiative supports people likely to witness an overdose in the community, with a focus on people who use drugs, their peers, as well as family members.

The initiative sets a global implementation target of 90-90-90 as a joint point of reference

• 90 per cent of the relevant target population will have received training in overdose risk and emergency management;
• 90 per cent of those trained will be given a supply of emergency naloxone;
• 90 per cent of those who have been given a naloxone supply will be carrying the naloxone on them or have it close at hand.

Here, you can read about the implementation of the project in in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

The report provides an overview of and rationale for the S-O-S initiative and details about the implementation of the project.