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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Swiss approve prescription heroin | Swiss approve prescription heroin |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Swiss voters have approved a radical health policy that offers prescription heroin to addicts on a permanent basis. | |
| Final results from the national referendum showed 68% of voters supported the plan. | Final results from the national referendum showed 68% of voters supported the plan. |
| The scheme, allowing addicts to inject the drug under medical supervision at a clinic, began in Zurich 14 years ago before spreading across the country. | The scheme, allowing addicts to inject the drug under medical supervision at a clinic, began in Zurich 14 years ago before spreading across the country. |
| But in another referendum vote, 63% of voters rejected the decriminalisation of cannabis. | But in another referendum vote, 63% of voters rejected the decriminalisation of cannabis. |
| The heroin vote was one of a series of referendums held to decide policy on illegal drugs. | The heroin vote was one of a series of referendums held to decide policy on illegal drugs. |
| SWISS HEROIN PROGRAMME Running since 1994Used by 1,300 addictsIncludes 23 centres nationwideAlso offers psychiatric counseling Radical Swiss plan | SWISS HEROIN PROGRAMME Running since 1994Used by 1,300 addictsIncludes 23 centres nationwideAlso offers psychiatric counseling Radical Swiss plan |
| Under the scheme, addicts visit clinics up to twice a day, where they inject the drug under medical supervision. They can also be treated for other medical issues or mental health problems, out correspondent says. | Under the scheme, addicts visit clinics up to twice a day, where they inject the drug under medical supervision. They can also be treated for other medical issues or mental health problems, out correspondent says. |
| The policy is described as one of last resort - prescribing addicts with the very drug that caused their problems in the first place - but supporters say it works, and Swiss voters appear to have agreed, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne says. | The policy is described as one of last resort - prescribing addicts with the very drug that caused their problems in the first place - but supporters say it works, and Swiss voters appear to have agreed, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne says. |
| Switzerland will be the first country to include it in government policy. | Switzerland will be the first country to include it in government policy. |
| Supporters say it has had positive results - getting long-term addicts out of Switzerland's once notorious "needle parks" and reducing drug-related crime. | Supporters say it has had positive results - getting long-term addicts out of Switzerland's once notorious "needle parks" and reducing drug-related crime. |
| Opponents say heroin prescription sends the wrong message to young people and harms the addicts themselves. | Opponents say heroin prescription sends the wrong message to young people and harms the addicts themselves. |
| On the cannabis issue, the government had opposed a change to the law. | On the cannabis issue, the government had opposed a change to the law. |
| Swiss police regularly turn a blind eye to moderate cannabis use. | Swiss police regularly turn a blind eye to moderate cannabis use. |
| But recent studies suggesting that long-term use of the drug may be more harmful than previously thought had looked likely to encourage a "No" to decriminalisation. | But recent studies suggesting that long-term use of the drug may be more harmful than previously thought had looked likely to encourage a "No" to decriminalisation. |
| Jo Lang, a Green Party MP from Zug, said he was disappointed that the proposal to change the law on cannabis had failed. | Jo Lang, a Green Party MP from Zug, said he was disappointed that the proposal to change the law on cannabis had failed. |
| "People have died from alcohol and heroin, but not from cannabis," said Mr Lang. | "People have died from alcohol and heroin, but not from cannabis," said Mr Lang. |