WHO press release
16 December 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) recently launched new guidance on Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation guidance on mitigating disruption of services for treatment of opioid dependence.
In 2022, an estimated 60 million people worldwide engaged in non-medical opioid use, including substances such as heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, methadone and tramadol.
Opioid agonist maintenance treatment (OAMT) for people with opioid dependence is a cost-effective intervention that reduces mortality, morbidity, non-medical opioid use, and HIV and hepatitis C virus transmission. It lowers risky behaviours, crime, and social costs, while improving treatment retention and overall well-being.
OAMT should be widely accessible, provided free of charge or covered by public health-care insurance, with an appropriate system of governance.
WHO calls on countries, service planners, providers, policy-makers, and all stakeholders involved in treatment and overdose prevention programmes to ensure live-saving interventions are maintained.
Read the full press release here.
Source : World Health Organization
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