SWITZERLAND; KANTON ZÜRICH (German speaking part)
 
Kantonsarzt: Dr. med. ULRICH GABATHULER
Address: Obstgartenstrasse 21
8090 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-2592410 / 2591111
Fax: +41-1-2595151
 
GPs can prescribe and provide methadone as long as the Kantonsarzt has approved the treatment of the patient.
Clinics and drug advisory centres, as long as they are supervised by a doctor, can prescribe and provide methadone.

ARUD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für risikoarmen Umgang mit Drogen)
 
In the summer of 1991 Dr. André Seidenberg got together with like-minded doctors to discuss the possibilities of implementing harm-reducing projects in the drug scene. these discussions resulted in the opinion that the main goal was to satisfy the demand for low-threshold, orally administered methadone.
ARUD Zürich has 350 members, most of them doctors and treats 1000-2000 clients in the Kanton Zürich.
The organisation has a wide network including ARUD Basel, ARUD Biel (Bienne), SIP Horgen, Zug, Schaffhausen etc.
ARUD's first project was to establish ZOKL 1 where more than 400 patients receive methadone. Another project is MAPS: computer-aided methadone dispensing and DDD-F, diversified drug dispensing to drug addicted prostitutes in the city of Zürich.
 
Address:
ARUD
Konradstrasse 1
8005 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-4465010
Fax: +41-1-4465015

Clinic of Dr. med. A. Seidenberg (co-founder ARUD)
 
The doctor employs more than four professionals which treat 50 patients.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering maintenance programmes (and detoxification). The average dose of methadone prescribed is 80 mg.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- other medication
(- social assistance)
(- psychiatric care)
 
The centre demands:
- daily attendance (at first, except people with employment)
- urine checks twice a month
- mandatory meetings with doctor
 
Violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
If patient want to enter the programme on a permanent basis payment has to be arranged through health insurance
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short time:
The centre should be informed beforehand (if possible) by fax, letter or e-mail.
The information necessary:
- identity
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
(- treatment history)
 
The patient has to pay treatment cash in advance: first week: 200.= Sfr, from second week on 100.= Sfr.
 
Address:
Dr. med. André Seidenberg
Weinbergstr. 9
8001 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-2665800
Fax: +41-1-2665801
E-mail: andre.seidenberg@hin.ch

Zokl1 (project of ARUD)
Poliklinik für methadongestützte behandlung
 
The centre employs 31 professionals of which 7 doctors, 1 psychiatrist, 10 nurses, 1 psychologists, 3 assistant therapists, 1 social scientist, 1 social worker, 5 administrators and 2 managers.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 1-120 mg.
Currently the centre treats 550 patients, with no maximum capacity of patients. There is no waiting list and no maximum duration of treatment.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
- other medication
 
The centre demands:
- daily attendance
- urine checks
 
Violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short period of time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, fax or letter.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
The costs involved are 20.= Sfr a day.
 
Procedures for patients who want to enter the programme on a permanent basis are no different.
 
Address:
Zokl 1
Postfach
8026 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-2914100
Fax: 41-1-2914110
E-mail: Zokl1@access.ch
Contact person: REMO VONTOBEL (co-ordinator) and Dr. DANIEL MEILI
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday from 6.00 till 21.45 hours; Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 till 11.30 hours and from 19.15 till 21.45 hours

Drop In Zürich / Drop In Dietikon / Therapiestelle für Drogenprobleme
 
Treatment philosophy of these three centres are based upon harm reduction offering detoxification and maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 60-80 mg.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list. Special target group: juveniles.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
- other medication
 
The centre demands (mostly individualised demands):
- daily attendance
- urine checks
- mandatory meetings with therapist
 
Non-attendance for some time and violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, fax or letter.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
 
If patient want to enter the programme on a permanent basis the intake criteria are different, namely investigation into treatment indication.
 
Address:
Drop In Zürich
Asylstrasse 23
8032 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-2525455
Fax: +41-1-2525409
Contact person: Frau Dr. DOMINIQUE EICH
Hours of opening: from 8.00 till 18.00 hours

Drop In Dietikon
Kirchplatz 5
8953 Dietikon
Phone: +41-1-741.17.11
Contact person: Dr. med. B. MINDER
Hours of opening: from 8.30 till 12.00 hours and from 14.00 till 17.50 hours

Therapiestelle für Drogenprobleme
Militärstrasse 8
8004 Zürich
Phone: +41-1-2422248
Fax: +41-1-2911240
Contact person: Dr.med. B. MINDER
Hours of opening: from 7.30 till 12.15 hours

 
 
Psychiatrisches Zentrum Ambulatorium Bahnhofstrasse, Wetzikon
 
The centre employs 1 nurse, 2 psychiatrists, 1 social worker, 2 psychologists and 2 administration.
Treatment philosophy of this centre is detoxification, Methadone maintenance programs.
 
Currently the centre treats 300 patients. 
The centre offers:
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
 
The centre demands urine checks and mandatory meetings with social work.
 
Non-attendance and violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking patient for a short period of time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by letter or fax from the patients' doctor.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
 
The costs involved are 8 Swiss francs a day.
 
Procedures for patients who want to enter the programme on a permanent basis are no different.
 
 
Psychiatrisches Zentrum Ambulatorium Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse 104
8620 Wetzikon
Phone: +41-1-9326880
Fax: +41-1-9326857
Contact person: head of medical service
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday from 9.00 till 12.00 hours and from 14.00 - 18.00 hours