Teen thieves cause methadone shortage

Difficult months ahead for Switzerland’s 9,000 methadone patients, as their medication may soon be unavailable. The Swiss Association for Addiction Medicine (SSAM) warns of a shortage of high-dose tablets given to addicts.

Because the Swiss Medical Institute for Therapeutic Products has suspended the operating license and all drug approvals for the main methadone producer for safety reasons.

A burglary started it all

The fact that the Aargau-based company lost its license to produce medicines goes back to a break-in by seven young people in one of the company’s production facilities, according to research by SRF. However, this happened in 2017 – and it was only discovered by chance: the young thieves then fell into the hands of a police patrol. It was only then that authorities became aware of possible safety deficiencies at the plant.

The case went to court and the owner of the company was convicted of violations of the Chemicals, Drugs and Narcotics Acts, SRF said. Swissmedic then came to the conclusion that the owner could no longer be given the necessary confidence – he was no longer accepted as the so-called “person responsible for the subject”.

Simplified import required

The owner defended it all the way to federal court – unsuccessfully. At the end of November 2022, the complaints were finally dismissed. Since then, the company no longer has valid drug licenses and is no longer allowed to carry out medicinal activities. The mandatory stock is also blocked.

This will continue until the shortcomings that led to the suspension are rectified and Swissmedic lifts the suspension. Nobody knows how long that will take.

Thousands affected

Bad news for addicts. Because there is no Swiss company that can take over production in the short term. Addiction doctor Thilo Beck speaks on Radio SRF of a “catastrophe” and argues for a simplified import of methadone tablets from abroad.

Only: An import is very expensive, as Enea Martinelli (57), board member of the Association of Pharmacists, says: Each license costs about 200 francs and applications can only be made individually.

According to Martinelli, the company in question had not only produced methadone tablets, but also a drug used for anesthesia during surgery. In this case, the federal government found a solution in Germany. However, the only alternative to methadone is to take the drug in liquid form or have it filled into capsules by the pharmacy – which is also very time-consuming. (she/SDA)