More can be done to prevent addiction in Switzerland, says anti-addiction NGO

Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, substances or gambling not only creates suffering among the population, but also generates enormous costs for the insured who pay health insurance premiums. This is according to Addiction Switzerland, which calls on the government to 'reverse course' and invest more in prevention. A study published in 2021 estimated that the economic costs attributed to addiction amount to almost CHF8 billion each year, the foundation writes in its 'Swiss Addiction Panorama 2026', published on Thursday. These costs are mostly related to health care costs, as well as loss of productivity and criminal proceedings. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In addition to these financial repercussions, there is also immense human suffering, emphasises Addiction Switzerland, as more than 10,000 people die each year in Switzerland due to tobacco, alcohol or drug consumption, and tens of thousands are addicted to addictive substances. Despite this ...