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Prescription Heroin Approved in Switzerland

-December 2, 2008

In a recent groundbreaking election, voters in Switzerland approved a policy that will allow addicts to regularly receive prescriptions for heroin.

According to this new policy, addicts are able to go to specific clinics up to two times per day and inject heroin under medical supervision. At these heroin clinics, addicts will also have access to various other medical treatments, including psychiatric care and mental health counseling.

Despite being controversial – particularly to Western countries that still criminalize heroin use, such heroin clinics have been available and widely used in Zurich for nearly 15 years. To date, over 1,300 heroin addicts have attended the 23 clinics throughout Switzerland.

Heroin Okay, Marijuana Still Illegal
Interestingly, while nearly 70 percent of voters approved the new prescription heroin referendum, over 60 percent voted against another referendum that would make marijuana use legal. During this election, Swiss government officials made it clear that they were opposed to the decriminalization of marijuana. However, Swiss police commonly overlook moderate pot use, despite the fact the ongoing illegality of the drug.

Pros and Cons of Heroin Clinics
Those who support the presence and work of heroin clinics say that having such facilities:

• decreases drug-related crimes

• gives addicts access to medical care that they wouldn't receive or seek out

• helps clean up the streets and various other locations where junkies would loiter and use drugs

However, others who are opposed to this new health policy contend that these heroin clinics send the wrong message to children, addicts and the public. According to these opponents, having heroin clinics implicitly supports drug abuse.

Another argument opponents present is the fact that heroin clinics are supplying the very substance that harms the addict in the first place. In effect, the heroin clinics enable addicts to continue their drug use and prevent them from trying to overcome their addiction.

Whether such heroin clinics are beneficial or detrimental to society will be determined in the coming years through research and real-world application.

(Source: BBC Health News)

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