The authorities must carry out more research to better understand the addictive risks of new products such as electronic cigarettes and legal cannabis, and impose a new legal framework, the non-governmental organization Addiction Switzerland says.
In its latest “Swiss Panorama of Addictions 2018External link” report published on Tuesday, the NGO called for a ‘new approach’ to cope with the growing offer of psychoactive substances and public demand for new products, which are “shaking up the field of addictions”.
“Numerous consumers want to experiment with new products with as few risks as possible, while manufacturers and firms are looking to make as much profit as they can while rejecting state regulation,” the NGO said.
Addiction Switzerland spokesperson Corine Kibora told swissinfo.ch that more resources must be invested in research to understand the risks of potentially addictive new substances available on the market.
“The only data we have on heat-not-burn tobacco products, for example, comes from the industry itself. We must therefore question their reliability. Secondly, a legal framework must be put in place to deal with new products. Unfortunately, the new tobacco bill, which was put out for consultation last December, has been watered down, particularly with regard to advertising and marketing restrictions,” declared Kibora.
Top politician tells ‘corrupt’ Eurovision to stay away from Bern
This content was published on
A social media post by the president of Bern’s cantonal government critical of the Eurovision Song Contest has created waves and will be discussed in the cantonal parliament.
Swiss centre records over 200 victims of human trafficking
This content was published on
Last year 317 people took part in a protection programme run by the Specialist Unit for Trafficking in Women and Women’s Migration (FIZ) in German-speaking Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are opening a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
Lack of smartphone sustainability in Switzerland hits environment
This content was published on
Almost half of all Swiss citizens hang on to their old smartphones, tablets and laptops, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Police clear out pro-Palestinian students protesting in Geneva
This content was published on
The police intervened early on Tuesday to dislodge pro-Palestinian students who had been occupying the University of Geneva for almost a week.
New gel developed in Zurich renders alcohol harmless
This content was published on
A newly developed gel composed of whey proteins breaks down alcohol in the body and could reduce its harmful and intoxicating effects in humans.
Pro-Palestine protests extend to Basel and Fribourg universities
This content was published on
Demonstrators called for an academic boycott of all Israeli institutions and disassociation with Chaim Weizmann, the first Israeli president.
This content was published on
In many cases, China's use of AI undermines the national security of the US and its allies, according to a US government representative.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
First hemp cigarettes to sell in Swiss supermarkets
This content was published on
From the middle of this month, the newspaper 20 Minutes reports, hemp cigarettes produced by trendy Swiss-based tobacco manufacturer HeimatExternal link will be available in Coop supermarkets country-wide. Each pack, which Heimat describe as “the world’s first CBD hemp cigarette,” will contain four grams of natural hemp mixed in with their natural Swiss tobacco, and…
‘Swiss marijuana champion’ finds new markets with ‘cannabis light’
This content was published on
There’s decaffeinated coffee, alcohol-free beer, and now marijuana that doesn’t make you high. A producer reveals the hidden side of the market.
Report laments lack of political action on addiction issues
This content was published on
A quarter of the Swiss population smokes and more than half of those want to quit, according to the latest numbers from a report published on Thursday by the national research and advocacy group, Addiction Switzerland, In addition, 21% of people in Switzerland drink alcohol in amounts that could be hazardous, and a quarter million…
This content was published on
Entrenched in Switzerland, the tobacco industry enjoys significant political support, but even that may not be enough to save it.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.