Switzerland to trial legal heroin programme

01 December 2008 | 05:38:50 PM | Source: AAP

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly approved a program to supply heroin addicts with government-authorised drugs.

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However, voters rejected the decriminalisation of marijuana.

Sixty-eight per cent of voters approved making the heroin program permanent.

The initiative had been credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts since it began 14 years ago.

Only 36.8 percent of voters favoured the marijuana initiative.
   
Parliament approved the heroin measure in a revision of Switzerland's narcotics law in March, but conservatives challenged the decision forcing a national referendum under Switzerland's system of direct democracy.

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Your Comments

01 Dec 2008 21:48 AEST

chandra

From: western australia

heroin trials

Although prescribed heroin undoubtedly assists in the disruption of the crime/habit cycle, one has to wonder where this approach leads. What next, Government supplied meth manufactured in Government run labs as well? Maybe it's time to seriously consider alternative approaches like naltrexone implants - yes we need more (Government funded) research in this area, but it's fairly evident it works and offers self empowerment instead of continued addiction.

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