(Needle Park in the 1990’s)
Switzerland saw a staggering rise in heroin addiction during the 1980s. According to a 2018 article from the American Psychiatric Association, “Switzerland Halts War on Drugs, Cuts Deaths” by Linda M. Richmond, needle parks were popping up all over Switzerland and it was found that arrests and forcing addicts into rehabilitation centers were not solving the problem.
So, the Swiss started the HAT (Heroin Assisted Treatment) program as a last resort in 1994.
To be prescribed heroin-assisted treatment, the patient must have two failed attempts at abstinence under their belt and must obtain their injections at the centers, in other words, no take home doses. The cost of providing heroin has proven to be much cheaper than housing addicts in jail or rehabilitation centers. The centers are staffed with medical professionals and an addict can only receive two doses of heroin per day.
Since 1994, Swiss drug overdose deaths dropped by 64 percent. HIV infections dropped by 84 percent. Home thefts dropped by 98 percent and the Swiss prosecute 75 percent fewer opioid-related drug cases each year, according to HealthNews.org. Many give credit to the HAT program.
HAT is popping up in Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Canada. Will the U.S. be next?
Although heroin is not the only problem drug in the United States, it does claim the lives of hundreds of Americans daily. Overdose deaths have increased two-fold in a decade. According to Drugabuse.org, 36,010 overdose deaths were reported in 2007. The number doubled to 70,200 in 2017.
(Needle Park Today)
Switzerland has proven there is more than one way to fight the war. Punishment and abstinence have dismal success rates. Twelve step programs’ success rates cannot be accurately gauged due to anonymity. People say only one in ten addicts achieves long-term sobriety/recovery. I’m not sure if I believe that number but my experiences battling addiction and then ultimately working for a rehabilitation center proved to me that recovery is not a leisurely ride. I’ve seen far too many people fall back into drug use than I’ve seen stay clean for the long haul.
April P
April P is the author of Amazon’s #1 bestseller, “High til I Die – The Dirty Mind of a Drug Addict” and is pursuing a B.A. in journalism, graduating in May 2019. She is also a heroin/cocaine addict in recovery since June 20, 2007. For more information on the author, visit www.aprilp.com.