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.