Reducing drug-related deaths: London 2014

Among many others, the factors that increase the risk of overdose are the lack of appropriate non-coercive Opiate Substitute Treatment (OST), the reduced tolerance after abstinence (prison or planned detox), mixing opiates with other respiratory depressants (especially benzodiazepines and alcohol), the availability of heroin and prescribed opiates (such as fentanyl/tramadol/oxycodone), a poor response to overdose, not testing for and treating Hepatitis C and HIV, and the criminalisation of drug use that leads to risky secretive injecting habits and danger of OD.