Traditional Use of Poppy in the Face of the Global Opioid Crisis
Traditional Use of Poppy in the Face of the Global Opioid Crisis
The global crisis of synthetic opioids represents one of the most serious public health emergencies of our time. In countries such as the United States and Canada, the availability of fentanyl and its analogs—extremely potent and highly addictive—has overwhelmed public health systems. According to the UN and the WHO, more than 150,000 people die each year from opioid overdoses. In the U.S., deaths involving fentanyl mixed with stimulants rose from 235 in 2010 to over 34,000 in 2020.
In light of this situation, it is necessary to broaden the approach beyond prohibition and conventional pharmacological treatments. One of the most promising pathways to address this crisis involves revisiting the traditional use of opium: a complex substance, culturally significant and pharmacologically less hazardous when consumed in a controlled manner, either orally or by smoking. (ICEERS, Spanien, 01.08.2025)
https://www.iceers.org/traditional-use-poppy-global-opioid-crisis/