Not every aspect is as idyllic as Heidi's.
In the heart of Europe, Zürich, Switzerland, once grappled with a large open drug scene in the 1990s. Today, however, the city is hailed as a model for drug policy by many German cities and communities, including Hamburg. This transformation is a result of Zürich's focus on harm reduction for drug consumers, as highlighted by Jonas Wenger, the Co-General Secretary of the Swiss Addiction Federation.
Wenger discussed key achievements of Zürich's drug policy during an interview with Lukas Gilbert. These accomplishments contribute to lowering drug-related harms in consumers by prioritising health, safety, and inclusion over punitive approaches.
One of the most significant successes is the implementation of Harm Reduction Services. Zürich has successfully introduced comprehensive measures such as Supervised Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs), which provide safer environments for drug users, reducing overdose deaths and health risks associated with unsafe consumption.
The policy also actively involves local civil society organisations, enhancing tailored outreach, peer support, and service accessibility to people who use drugs. This fosters trust and improves health outcomes.
Moreover, effective linkage of harm reduction with health care, including Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV prevention, testing, and treatment, addresses the broader health needs of drug users and reduces infectious disease transmission.
Continuous civil society-led monitoring ensures that policies remain responsive to new drug trends and emerging challenges, allowing timely adaptation and evidence-based refinement of harm reduction strategies.
Zürich's model shows positive results in decreasing overdose rates, infectious diseases, and social marginalization among people who use drugs. Wenger underscores that these achievements are a testament to the effectiveness of evidence-based, pragmatic approaches that emphasise public health and safety.
The approach in Zürich combines liberal attitudes with tough enforcement in drug policy. While discussing potential struggles Germany might face in implementing similar policies, Wenger emphasised the importance of understanding the local context and tailoring policies accordingly.
Interestingly, purchasing the magazine from Hinz&Kunzt vendors on Hamburg's streets provides access to the current issue. International readers can also subscribe to a print edition of the magazine.
The suffering caused by the drug scene in Zürich during the 1990s is almost unimaginable today. The city's transformation serves as a beacon for other cities and communities grappling with similar issues, demonstrating that harm reduction can be an effective and humane approach to drug policy.
Science has played a crucial role in Zürich's successful implementation of harm reduction strategies, providing evidence-based approaches to reduce drug-related harms and improve health outcomes. This strategy, grounded in health-and-wellness principles and mental-health considerations, has significantly contributed to decreasing overdose rates, reducing infectious diseases, and alleviating social marginalization among drug users.
