Objectives: Opioid use, both prescribed and illicit, has caused considerable harm and fatalities. This study aims at characterising patterns of emergency department (ED) presentations related to opioid abuse across Europe.

Methods: Data on demographics, clinical features, and epidemiology were extracted from the Euro-DEN Plus data set for presentations involving acute opioid toxicity between October 2013 and December 2021.

Results: Of 62,545 presentations, 3888 (6.2%) involved prescription opioids, 11,252 (18.0%) illicit opioids, and 587 (0.9%) both. Heroin accounted for 99.8% of illicit opioid cases. The most commonly reported prescription opioids were methadone (51.3%), buprenorphine (13.9%), morphine (9.3%), fentanyl (6.8%), and tramadol (6.7%). Co-use of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs (35.6%) and pregabalin (6.6%) was significantly higher in prescription opioid cases compared with illicit (20.6% and 1.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Mortality was greater with prescription opioids (1.2%) than illicit opioids (0.4%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Heroin remains the predominant opioid; though the relative contribution of prescription opioids varies significantly across centres and countries. Methadone and buprenorphine predominate among prescribed opioids, while fentanyl and oxycodone account for a small proportion, contrasting with North American patterns.