Medical prescription of heroin to chronic heroin addicts in Switzerland - a review.

In 1994, a new project dealing with the treatment of heroin dependency was introduced in Switzerland. A group of heavy opiate addicts, who had failed in previous medical therapies, received heroin by prescription, supported by health and social services. The admission criteria to this treatment are summarized as the main results of this project: physical and mental health of the addicts improved on average during treatment, an improvement also took place in their social reintegration, a significant decrease in consumption of illegal drugs took place and illegal activities declined massively. The proportion of patients who continued the treatment in a time period of 12 months was held at 76%. Comparison of the treatment costs with the economic benefits shows that there is a total benefit per patient and per day of 26 US dollars. Further drug related political decisions in Switzerland as well as the assessments of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) of the United Nations to this project will be reported and discussed.