Addiction prevention: 1 CHF today to save 20 tomorrow

Context

In brief

• Addictions in Switzerland cost 8 billion francs per year
• 10% cuts to the Federal Office of Public Health
• For every franc invested today, 20-40 francs are saved in the future

Key facts

• What: Cuts to addiction prevention funds
• When: 2026
• Where: Ticino Canton, Switzerland
• Who: Federal Office of Public Health
• Amount: 10% cuts, future savings of 20-40 francs for every franc invested

The explosion of healthcare spending and the increase in health insurance premiums are topics that constantly come to the forefront. However, an area that has not yet been fully explored is that of addictions. According to Luca Notari, a researcher at Addiction Switzerland, addictions in Switzerland cost around eight billion francs per year and cause over ten thousand deaths. Nevertheless, prevention has become the Cinderella of public policies.

The equation is simple: an investment today in prevention allows containing costs tomorrow. However, while the problem grows, the Federal Office of Public Health faces 10% cuts and must abandon a series of measures and studies that would help guide policies and assist Parliament in making far-sighted decisions.

The logic of immediate savings

Parliament acts following a logic of immediate savings. Cuts are sought for the following year, in the order of hundreds of millions or billions. A cut that does not solve the problem. In reality, prevention is an investment: it requires resources today to generate benefits in ten years or more. Studies show that for every franc invested today, twenty, thirty, or forty can be saved in the future.

Everything that does not produce immediate effects tends to be cut. The risk is paying the consequences in ten years, with higher healthcare costs. Instead, the short term is privileged over medium- to long-term benefits. The results of prevention policies are often seen after decades. Some countries that introduced measures against tobacco twenty or thirty years ago are now reaping the benefits. In Switzerland, however, lung cancer rates remain high.

Concrete measures

There is no single measure capable of solving all problems. For each substance or behavior, there are different possible actions. For alcohol, a minimum price could be introduced, as happens in some countries, to avoid sales at extremely low prices. Another hypothesis is the introduction of informative labels on bottles regarding consumption during pregnancy. It is also important to strengthen age controls, including purchase tests, and ensure that minors cannot obtain alcohol or tobacco online or through delivery services.

For cannabis, a legally regulated market managed by the State and not oriented towards profit could be evaluated, with the aim of withdrawing consumption from the black market and reducing the risks related to low-quality products. Taxation could be modulated based on the THC content.

Concrete examples and real numbers

In the Canton of Ticino, the problem of addictions is particularly evident. For example, in 2022, the cost of addictions for the Ticino healthcare system was estimated at around 200 million francs, with a significant impact on hospital services and rehabilitation facilities. In Lugano, the addiction prevention service recorded a 15% increase in intervention requests over the last two years, with a peak in cases related to the use of synthetic substances.

A concrete example of success is the addiction prevention program launched in 2018 in Bellinzona. Thanks to an initial investment of 500,000 francs, the program has allowed a 20% reduction in cases of alcohol abuse among young people, with an estimated saving of 1.5 million francs in direct and indirect healthcare costs.

Normative and dates

Switzerland has introduced several regulations to combat addictions. For example, the 2008 Federal Tobacco Act led to a 10% reduction in cigarette consumption between 2008 and 2018. However, the Canton of Ticino still has a smoking rate above the national average, with 28% of the adult population smoking regularly.

Another important regulation is the 2002 Federal Alcohol Act, which introduced restrictions on the sale of alcohol to minors. Despite this, alcohol consumption among young people remains a problem, with 30% of Ticino students declaring that they have consumed alcohol at least once a week.

Operational checklist

To effectively address the problem of addictions, a structured approach is necessary. Here is an operational checklist:

1. Problem assessment: Analyze local data on addictions and identify the most widespread substances or behaviors. 2. Planning measures: Define an action plan with clear and measurable objectives. 3. Involvement of stakeholders: Collaborate with schools, local communities, and healthcare services to implement the measures. 4. Monitoring and evaluation: Monitor the effectiveness of the measures and make changes if necessary. 5. Communication and awareness: Promote awareness campaigns to educate the population about the risks of addictions.

Comparison between practical scenarios

Imagine two scenarios: one in which investment is made in prevention and one in which funds are cut. In the first scenario, an investment of 1 million francs in prevention programs could reduce cases of addiction by 15%, with savings of 20-40 million francs in direct and indirect healthcare costs. In the second scenario, cuts in funds could lead to a 10% increase in cases of addiction, with additional costs of 10-20 million francs.

Conclusion

Prevention of addictions is a long-term investment that requires a forward-looking vision. Cutting funds for prevention may seem like an immediate solution, but in the long term it entails much higher costs. It is fundamental to adopt a structured and collaborative approach to address the problem of addictions and ensure a healthier future for everyone.

Operational details

Implications for cross-border workers

The cuts to funds for addiction prevention, announced in 2023, can have a significant impact on cross-border workers employed in Ticino. With rising healthcare costs, health insurance premiums could become more burdensome, affecting the purchasing power and quality of life of cross-border workers. For example, a cross-border worker residing in a municipality like Mendrisio or Chiasso, where the density of cross-border workers is high, could see an increase in health insurance premiums of 5-7% by 2025, according to estimates from the Cantonal Health Office.

Comparison with the previous situation

Before the cuts, the Federal Office of Public Health had the possibility to finance a series of preventive measures that could have reduced healthcare costs in the long term. With a budget of 50 million Swiss francs per year, awareness campaigns, school programs, and support centers were funded. Now, with a 10% cut, many of these measures have been canceled, leaving cross-border workers and the general population more exposed to risks related to addictions. For example, the 'Youth and Alcohol' program in Lugano, which has seen a 30% reduction in funding, may not be able to achieve its goal of reducing alcohol consumption among adolescents by 15% by 2026.

Future scenarios

If effective prevention policies are not implemented, healthcare costs will continue to rise, with a negative impact on the well-being of cross-border workers and the sustainability of the healthcare system. It is essential that the Parliament and the cantonal authorities of Ticino recognize the importance of prevention and invest in the necessary measures to contain long-term costs. For example, a 10% increase in healthcare costs related to addictions could lead to an increase in insurance premiums of 3-5% by 2027, according to a 2023 report by the Institute of Economic Research in Locarno.

Comparison with other countries

Countries like Norway have introduced measures against tobacco twenty or thirty years ago and are now reaping the benefits. In Norway, the rate of daily smokers is about 7%, compared to 16% in Switzerland. This has led to lower healthcare costs and a healthier population. In Ticino, it is important to learn from these examples and adopt similar measures to reduce addiction rates and associated healthcare costs. For example, the introduction of a 20% tax on tobacco could reduce consumption by 10% by 2028, as demonstrated by a study from the University of Bern.

Operational checklist

• Assessment of current costs: Analyze the current impact of addictions on healthcare costs in Ticino.
• Identification of preventive measures: List the preventive measures that could be implemented to reduce long-term costs.
• Comparison with other countries: Study the prevention policies adopted in other countries and assess their applicability in Ticino.
• Involvement of authorities: Collaborate with the Parliament and the cantonal authorities of Ticino to develop a concrete action plan.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Implement a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness of the preventive measures adopted.

Concrete examples

• Awareness campaigns: Launch awareness campaigns on the risks of addictions, similar to those conducted in Norway, which reduced tobacco consumption by 30% in ten years.
• School programs: Introduce school health education programs, such as the 'Safe Schools' program in Bellinzona, which reduced alcohol consumption among students by 20% in five years.
• Support centers: Create support centers for addictions, such as the Support Center in Lugano, which has helped over 500 people overcome addictions from 2020 to 2023.

Conclusion

It is essential that Ticino acts quickly to implement effective prevention measures. Investing in prevention today can save significant healthcare costs tomorrow, improving the quality of life for cross-border workers and the general population.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

What to do concretely

1. Inform yourself: Cross-border workers should inform themselves about the available prevention measures and the services offered by the cantonal authorities. For example, the "Prevention Addictions Ticino" program offers free consultations in 12 municipalities, including Lugano, Bellinzona, and Locarno, with an annual budget of 1.2 million CHF. > "Prevention is an investment, not an expense" — Department of Health Ticino. 2. Participate: Participate in prevention and awareness programs organized by local authorities. The "Young People and Alcohol" project has reduced hospital admissions for alcohol abuse by 15% in Lugano from 2018 to 2022. 3. Monitor: Monitor healthcare costs and health insurance premiums to understand the impact of prevention policies. For example, average premiums in Ticino increased by 4% in 2023, compared to the 2% Swiss average. 4. Act: If costs become unsustainable, cross-border workers may consider moving to other regions or countries with more effective prevention policies. For example, a cross-border worker who spends 12,000 CHF/year on health insurance premiums could save 2,400 CHF/year by moving to a municipality with lower premiums.

Useful tools

To better understand the impact of prevention policies on healthcare costs, cross-border workers can use the health insurance premium calculator available on the Frontaliere Ticino website. This tool allows you to compare health insurance premiums in different regions and evaluate the impact of prevention policies.

Operational checklist

• 📊 Compare premiums: Use the calculator to compare premiums in Ticino and neighboring regions.
• 💡 Join programs: Sign up for local prevention programs, such as "Prevention Addictions Ticino".
• ⚠️ Monitor costs: Keep track of your healthcare costs and health insurance premiums.
• Consider moving: If costs are too high, consider moving to a region with lower premiums.

Practical comparisons

• Scenario A: A cross-border worker living in Lugano and spending 12,000 CHF/year on health insurance premiums could save 2,400 CHF/year by moving to Mendrisio, where average premiums are lower.
• Scenario B: A cross-border worker participating in the "Young People and Alcohol" program could reduce the risks of alcohol abuse and avoid additional healthcare costs.

Conclusion

Cuts to funds for addiction prevention in Ticino can have a significant impact on cross-border workers. It is essential that the authorities recognize the importance of prevention and invest in the necessary measures to contain healthcare costs in the long term. Cross-border workers can inform themselves, participate in prevention programs, and monitor healthcare costs to better understand the impact of prevention policies.

Source: tio.ch