We are not winning the war against drugs. Governments around the world have launched countless campaigns, posters, and incentive programs in an attempt to reduce drug use—yet worldwide drug-related death rates remain at staggering numbers. In the United States alone, more than 105,000 people die from drug overdoses each year, proving that traditional methods of fighting against illegal drug use are not working.
President Richard Nixon famously launched the War on Drugs in the 1970s, declaring drug use a national emergency. What was once a commonplace medicinal and recreational activity transformed overnight into a criminal offense with mandatory minimum sentences for substance possession. While reducing drug usage is a worthy goal, the War on Drugs’ implementation was disastrous. Harsh criminal charges disproportionately targeted communities of color, creating a racially skewed prison system. Unsurprisingly, Black individuals faced more cruel punishments seen in the disparity in sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine. Five grams of crack cocaine, typically consumed by African Americans, warranted the same five-year prison sentence as 500 grams of powder cocaine, more commonly consumed by a wealthier, whiter demographic.
The War on Drugs in the U.S. became a war on the underprivileged, minority communities in America, resulting in soaring incarceration rates that continue today, holding 25 percent of the incarcerated population worldwide and pushing our prison system to the brink of collapse. However, Switzerland has taken a radically different approach to the issue—one that works.
Instead of criminalizing drug users, Switzerland provides drugs in a controlled and safe manner. In 1994, the country passed and implemented one of the most progressive drug policies in the world, based on four pillars: harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and law enforcement.
Harm reduction: Switzerland chose to focus on minimizing the physical damage drugs can cause to the human body, especially in those with consistent use. Switzerland introduced needle exchange programs, to eliminate sharing needles between users and prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis C. They also created drug consumption rooms, safe spaces to consume drugs under medical supervision, helping reduce overdose deaths. Medical staff also help users access other essential services, like housing, food, or treatment programs.
Treatment: While mental health support is always available, the primary form of treatment in Switzerland is medical, providing methadone (gives the same “high” as typical street drugs but over a longer period of time to reducing cravings) or buprenorphine (a “partial high” and is typically safer for at-home usage) to users. Additionally, Switzerland has universal health care, making treatment accessible for all, not just the wealthy like some forms of drug aids in America. While the overall hope for treatment is to help users wean off drugs altogether, there is no expectation for such results. Instead, users are provided a safe and stable supply of drugs and can even receive take-home doses or pharmacy prescriptions.
Prevention: Similar to approaches in the United States, prevention focuses on education, campaigns, and various public initiatives to inform people about the dangers of drugs and deter potential users.
Law Enforcement: Rather than targeting individual users, Swiss police focus on high-level dealers, aiming to reduce harm by attacking the source (of dirty drugs) rather than punishing the victims.
As a result of prioritizing care over punishment, Switzerland’s four pillar approach transformed Platzspitz Park, once infamously referred to as “Needle Park”, from the epitome of open drug usage with soaring HIV and overdose rates to a controlled environment. As NC Health News reported on Jean-Félix Savary, the secretary general of the Romand Group of Addiction Studies in Geneva, “the goal was not to fight drugs anymore. It’s completely ridiculous to fight drugs.”
Providing people a safe space and clean source of drugs has greatly contributed to Switzerland’s shocking 64 percent drop in opioid related deaths over the last two decades, as well as national decline in HIV and hepatitis C infections.
While imperfect, Switzerland’s strategy prioritizes progress over punishment and has proven far more effective than the punitive approach of the United States. If the U.S. truly hopes to win the War on Drugs and reduce death, disease, and incarceration rates, first it needs to consider if its drug policies are designed to stop drugs—or to help people.