These guidelines produced by the World Health Organisation aim to reduce the number of deaths from opioid overdose by providing evidence-based recommendations on the availability of naloxone for people likely to witness an opioid overdose along with advice on the resuscitation and post-resuscitation care of opioid overdose in the community.

Specifically, these guidelines seek to:

• increase the availability of naloxone to people likely to witness an opioid overdose in the pre-hospital setting;
• increase the preparedness of people likely to witness an opioid overdose to respond safely and effectively by carrying naloxone and being trained in the management of opioid overdose;
• increase the rate of effective resuscitation and post-resuscitation care by persons witnessing an opioid overdose