Zurich, Switzerland: Needle Park

Switzerland's drug policies are among the most liberal in Europe. With only one federal drug law, most drug policy issues are handled at the regional or level. Within the regions, a wide range of harm reduction and treatment options have emerged with some funding and guidance from the national government. The Swiss' drug policies are supported by the public, while criticized by many international organizations, including the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board.

In the 1990s, Zurich experimented with what became known as Needle Park where addicts could openly purchase drugs and inject heroin without police intervention. Zurich became the mecca for drug addicts across Europe, who would travel to Needle Park. In 1992, when authorities decided to close Needle Park, the addicts moved to Letten railroad station until its closure in 1995. Based on the failure of Needle Park and the Letten railroad station experiments, the Swiss government, like other governments in Europe, developed consumption rooms to provide a "clean and safe" environment for addicts to inject heroin under medical supervision.