The acute or chronic administration of opioid drugs may induce oxidative damage and cellular apoptosis in the liver and kidney, and hence result in hepatic and renal damage. Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) are emerging as important modulators of cellular functions. They have been shown to be involved in cellular protective mechanisms against a variety of toxic stressors. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a pharmacological inducer of Trx-1 and Hsp70, on morphine-induced hepatic and renal damage. Morphine induced apoptosis in the liver and kidney through the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway, but not the endoplasmic reticulum-mediated pathway. The activation of caspases-9 and -3 was attenuated by pre‑treatment with GGA. In addition, the morphine-induced increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was suppressed by GGA. Furthermore, GGA enhanced morphine-induced expression of Trx-1 and Hsp70 in the liver and kidney. The findings of this study suggest that GGA may be a safe and novel therapeutic agent for morphine‑induced hepatic and renal damage.