Zurich is facing increasing pressure as it becomes a central hub for crack cocaine use, drawing individuals from across Switzerland and beyond. The city’s efforts to manage the crisis-including a newly opened supervised consumption site-are sparking political debate and raising questions about regional obligation for addiction services. Approximately half of those seeking help in Zurich originate from outside city limits,straining local resources and prompting calls for collaborative solutions from neighboring communities and cantons. The issue highlights a broader decline in addiction support services throughout the region, leaving Zurich to bear a disproportionate burden.
Zurich is grappling with an influx of crack cocaine users drawn from surrounding areas, prompting criticism of neighboring communities for a lack of addiction services. The situation has sparked debate among city officials and political parties about how to address the growing problem and manage the strain on local resources.
February 1, 2026, 08:06February 1, 2026, 08:06
Approximately half of the roughly 400 crack cocaine users concentrated in Zurich’s city center come from outside the city limits. The city’s response to the crisis, including the opening of a supervised consumption site, has faced scrutiny from both the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Free Democratic Party (FDP). Both parties recently accused city leaders of failing to act quickly enough.
Around half of the crack cocaine users in Zurich come from outside the city. (Symbolic image)Image: keystone
The SVP and FDP have called for stricter measures to return individuals struggling with addiction to their home communities. A key point of contention has been the new consumption facility near the Sihlcity shopping center, which was established to connect out-of-town users with services in their areas. However, officials say those efforts have proven challenging.
Initial Outreach Efforts
The city’s Social Department reported that initial contact has been made with the home communities of around 20 individuals. However, there is currently no concentration of cases within specific municipalities. Users are traveling to Zurich from across the canton and from other cantons to purchase and consume crack cocaine at the supervised consumption site.
Despite these outreach attempts, no one has yet been successfully returned to their place of origin. A major obstacle is the lack of available services for crack cocaine users in many of those communities. Officials say that individuals often return to Zurich immediately, seeking continued access to the city’s resources.
A map from the Federal Coordination and Specialist Office for Addiction illustrates Zurich’s role as a regional hub. While Winterthur offers addiction support services, it lacks a supervised consumption site. The nearest facilities offering crack cocaine inhalation are located in Lucerne, Basel, and Schaffhausen. There are currently no such facilities east of Zurich, and a proposed site in Chur has been stalled by political debate.
Decline in Regional Services
The Social Department notes that over the past decade, many services for severely addicted individuals outside of Zurich have been reduced or eliminated. This gap in regional support is now contributing to the influx of users into the city. As a result, Zurich officials are seeking “joint solutions with other municipalities, cities, and cantons.”
In the 1990s and 2010s, the Canton of Zurich had over a dozen contact and support centers for people with addiction issues, spread throughout the region. Services such as emergency shelters and supported housing were also more readily available, and often permitted on-site drug consumption.
Generally, there are fewer facilities today that accept drug consumption, according to city officials. However, Raphael Golta, the city’s Social Welfare Officer, has previously stated that the situation of those struggling with addiction must be acknowledged, and that a drug-free society is unrealistic.
Visibility of the Issue
The visibility of crack cocaine use in Zurich has decreased recently, likely due to the colder weather. However, a city council member from the FDP predicted that the problem will resurface when temperatures rise, foreshadowing further debate on the issue.
Crack cocaine is produced by combining cocaine with baking soda and is sold in small “rocks.” The drug is typically smoked and produces a short-lived high, but is highly addictive and can cause aggressive behavior. Users often neglect basic needs like eating and sleeping, leading to deteriorating physical health. (sda)
