The National Strategy on Addiction aims to prevent the development of addiction, provide help to people with an addiction and reduce the negative impact on health and society.
As part of the Federal Council's Health2020 initiative, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and its partners have developed the National Strategy on Addiction. The strategy was adopted by the Swiss Federal Council in mid-November 2015. For the first time, it creates a comprehensive orientation and action framework for stakeholders at all federal levels in the field of addiction and in related areas of social and health policy. It serves experts and service providers as a starting point for their addiction-specific activities and projects.
The National Strategy on Addiction is based on the balance between personal responsibility and support for people with an addiction. It further develops Switzerland's successful addiction policy with its four pillars of prevention, therapy and counseling, harm reduction and regulation. It is integral, cross-addiction and non-substance-related. It aims to strengthen the prevention of addiction and its early detection and to ensure the long-term treatment of people with an addiction. With the National Strategy on Addiction, the Federal Council has created the basis for taking measures not only for drug, alcohol and tobacco-related forms of addiction but also for other forms of addiction such as drug addiction, addictive online behavior and gambling addiction.
Overview National Strategy on Addiction
Strengthening health literacy
We all have our individual patterns of behaviour and consumption. Behaviours are not static but change according to one’s age and stage in life. The behavioural balance of each individual thus also changes in the course of a lifetime. Individuals and their environment, circumstances and ability to shape the world they live in are key to dealing with addiction. Strengthening individual health literacy is therefore an important part of addiction revention and addiction assistance.
Creating favourable conditions
Besides individual circumstances, societal realities such as work, environmental and living conditions, availability of substances and access to potentially addictive offerings play a crucial role in the development of addiction. Societal framework must therefore be structured in such a way that the health of the individual is promoted and the objectives of addiction prevention and addiction assistance are supported. That includes preventing the onset of problematic consumption and providing early support to vulnerable individuals as well as assistance with controlled use or withdrawal.
Differentiating risks
The National Strategy on Addiction differentiates consumption and behaviour patterns according to their intensity and associated risks for the individual and for society.
• Low-risk behaviour describes the use of psychoactive substances and types of behaviour which are not harmful for the individuals concerned or their environment and are often part of social coexistence.
• Risk behaviour involves consumption or behaviour that can cause harm to individuals and their environment. We differentiate between three behaviour patterns with different harm potential, namely excessive behaviour, chronic behaviour and situation-inappropriate behaviour.
• Addiction is an illness that is characterised by compulsive behaviour that persists even in the face of serious health and social consequences for the individual concerned and their environment.
Assessment of consumption and behaviour
• Most people have a low-risk consumption and behaviour pattern and do not constitute a risk to either themselves or others.
• Some people are no longer able to control their substance use or their behaviour, however. They show a risk behaviour that can develop into addiction.
• People who are unable to restrict their consumption or change their behaviour should nonetheless be given support to minimise risk and harm.
Early support
• People with problematic behaviour and consumption patterns often do not recognise the issue themselves, or only recognise it at a late stage. The earlier risk behaviour or addiction is recognised, the more effectively those concerned can be supported and harm to individuals and society reduced.
• Effective addiction assistance starts with the individual and provides support regardless of whether the person is in a position to undergo treatment or not.
• Effective addiction assistance aims to regenerate health and promote social integration, involving family and friends as well as other social contacts through leisure activities, work and school.
Improving prevention and addiction assistance
As part of the Health2020 health policy agenda, the Federal Council has decided to intensify health promotion and disease prevention. With regard to addiction, the agenda calls for improvements in prevention, early detection and control of addictive disorders.
The Federal Council has commissioned the Federal Office of Public Health to develop a National Strategy on Addiction. The focus of the strategy is from both a broad-based policy-oriented and specialist point of view.
Targeted action
The National Strategy on Addiction has eight fields of action. Four theme-oriented fields address the lines of action of the established four-pillar policy:
• Prevention, health promotion, early detection
• Treatment and counselling
• Harm reduction and minimisation of risk
• Regulation and enforcement
Four additional fields of action describe cross-sectoral tasks:
• Coordination and cooperation
• Knowledge
• Awareness-raising and information
• International policy
Coordinated implementation
The National Strategy on Addiction defines the objectives for the period from 2017 until 2024. In late 2016, its implementation was put in concrete terms in an action plan.
The action plan determines implementation priorities and describes how objectives are to be achieved. It also provides information on the manner of cooperation between the Confederation and cantons, communes, professional associations, NGOs and additional partners.
Measures are embedded as far as possible within existing structures and are implemented according to the responsibilities of the various addiction policy stakeholders.
As part of an interim evaluation, the effectiveness of the measures shall be reviewed by the end of 2020 and the measures adapted if necessary.
Combining health and social affairs
Implementation of the National Strategy on Addiction includes the following priorities:
• Early detection: any problematic use of psychoactive substances or addictive behaviour should be recognised as early as possible. Those concerned are given prompt access to support and, if need be, treatment services.
• Needs-oriented treatment, counselling and harm reduction: those concerned should have access to treatment and counselling services that promote health and social rehabilitation and reduce harm.
• Coordination: promotion of cross-sector networking and cooperation among addiction policy partners. Stakeholders use the objectives of the National Strategy on Addiction as a basis and coordinate their actions.
Last modification 15.05.2024
Contact
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Division Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases NCD
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003
Bern
Switzerland
Tel.
+41 58 463 88 24