The Swiss and Heroin

Switzerland has voted into law a comprehensive program which legalizes the use of heroin for its addicts. The program which started in 1994 to curb the number of addicts shooting up in public locations such as parks has become a permanent fixture in Swiss society. Proponents of the program argue that the measure has reduced crime while providing a better life for addicts. The goal behind the program is to make the addicts functional members of society. Oddly, these are the same Swiss voters who simultaneously voted against the decriminalization of marijuana. 68% of the Swiss voters approved the legalization of heroin while 62% voted against decriminalization of marijuana (whats the deal with the Swiss). The 1,300 addicts on the program go to centers in which they receive an injection two times a day of government manufactured heroin with clean needles and safe equipment. Sabina Geissbuehler-Strupler a member of the right wind republican party in Switzerland reported that 95% of the addicts on the program where unable to recover. Consequently, it appears that the Swiss are giving up on the problem of drug abuse by facilitating heroin injections in a controlled atmoshere at a cost of $22 million a year. Personally, if I where a Swiss citizen I would be enraged at having to pay for junkies to get their fix. In short Switzerland is facilitating a killer drug that ruins lives, while users of marijuana (a plant which has recorded no deaths in its long history) are sent to jail. This "progressive" measure to me seem counter-productive. If however, the governement legalized heroin to lower the purchasing cost which in turn would reduce criminal activity surrounding the drug, I would not raise such strong objections, however a government directly facilitated drug abuse is unpalatable. Give addicts clean needles (preventing costly AIDS infections) and information regarding the adverse affects of heroin, do not give addicts their fix.