Morphine consumption in outpatient treatment in Switzerland increased by 70% in 2017, according to a study by Helsana, the country’s biggest health insurer, in collaboration with the University Hospital of Basel and the Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine.
The rise in consumption can partly be explained by increased prescriptions of the painkiller in psychiatric institutions, Le Matin Dimanche newspaper reportedExternal link on Sunday. Morphine is increasingly replacing methadone, which is given to drug addicts as a substitute for heroin, as morphine avoids certain side effects for patients.
But this increase was also part of a general increase in the consumption of legal opioids, which cover all painkillers, the paper said.
Figures from Interpharma, the association of Swiss pharmaceutical companies, show that the sale of opioids increased by around 50% between 2010 and 2017, from 1.27 million to 1.82 million units.
More
More
Opioid painkiller prescriptions surge in Switzerland
This content was published on
Prescription for powerful opioid medication have increased twenty-fold in the last thirty years, a recent study has found.
First large-scale alpine solar plant approved in Switzerland
This content was published on
The approval was met with satisfaction by the project's organisers, but it also brings with it a certain amount of pressure.
Medieval squirrels may have ‘helped spread leprosy’
This content was published on
An examination of squirrel remains in the United Kingdom has opened up interesting questions and possibilities in terms of the history of the disease.
Swiss money laundering office registers record number of reports
This content was published on
The Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS) registered a record number of reports of suspicious activity last year.
Two teens accused of planning terror attack released from custody
This content was published on
The Schaffhausen judiciary has released the two teenagers from custody who allegedly planned bomb attacks in Switzerland.
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
Why is Switzerland behind in palliative care?
This content was published on
Earlier this year, Steffen EychmüllerExternal link was appointed Professor of Palliative Care External link– only the second such position in Switzerland – at the University of Bern. swissinfo.ch met him at the Centre for Palliative CareExternal link at the University Hospital Bern, which he heads. It is clear that the experienced doctor is passionate about…
This content was published on
It is for good reason that its transport involves extraordinary security measures. In 1994, when parliament and the Federal Health Office were still responsible for the procurement and delivery of heroin, it was actually stored for several months in an enormous bank vault directly next to the gold bars of the Swiss National Bank. “I…
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.