Drug-related deaths down in 2001

Drug-related deaths in Switzerland are down by about 50 in comparison with last year Keystone Archive

Fewer people died of drug overdoses in Switzerland in 2001 than in the previous year, a report shows.

After an increase in 2000, the number of drug-related deaths dropped by 54 to stand at 152, according to a survey from the Swiss News Agency. Zurich was the worst hit canton, with 47 deaths.

Cantons St Gallen and Bern ranked second and third, with 18 and 16 deaths respectively. While the number of drug victims in St Gallen rose slightly, Bern witnessed a dramatic drop – down from 36 fatalities in 2000.

There were no overdoses reported in six cantons, including Appenzell, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Neuchâtel and Glarus.

Drug-related deaths have dropped by more than half over the past decade. In 1992, with Zurich’s Letten drug scene at its peak, 419 people died in Switzerland.

At least 30,000 people are thought to be dependent on hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, in Switzerland.

swissinfo with agencies