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The Opioid Epidemic in Africa and Its Impact

  • Opioids (D Fiellin and J Donroe, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Addiction Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 13 August 2019

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a global phenomenon and is on the rise in Africa, denoting a shift from historical patterns of drug transport to internal consumption. In contrast, opioids for clinical pain management in Africa remain among the least available globally. This region also has the highest HIV and HCV disease burden, and the greatest shortages of health workers and addiction treatment. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to describe opioid use in Africa and how it is being addressed.

Recent Findings

A total of 84 articles from 2000 to 2018 were identified. Descriptions of country-specific populations and patterns of opioid misuse were common. A smaller number of articles described interventions to address OUD.

Summary

OUD occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, with attendant clinical and social costs. Evidence-based policies and health system resources are needed to promote OUD prevention and management and infectious disease transmission reduction.

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Change history

  • 13 August 2019

    The original article unfortunately contained a mistake. Under the section ���Funding,��� the following text should have been.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the colleagues engaged in opioid work and remediation in Africa.

Funding

This project was supported in part by award number R01MH085577 from the National Institute of Mental Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Mental Health or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Nursing, 400 West Campus Drive, Orange, CT, USA

    Ann E. Kurth, Rosabelle Conover & Nok Chhun

  2. Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya

    Peter Cherutich

  3. Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    R. Douglas Bruce

  4. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    R. Douglas Bruce

  5. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Barrot H. Lambdin

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  1. Ann E. Kurth
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AEK wrote the first draft, RC conducted the literature review, and all authors contributed to writing, editing, and responsibility for the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ann E. Kurth.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Opioids

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Kurth, A.E., Cherutich, P., Conover, R. et al. The Opioid Epidemic in Africa and Its Impact. Curr Addict Rep 5, 428–453 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-018-0232-9

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