Question: If you’re a struggling heroin addict in Switzerland, what’s one way to deal with your addiction?

Answer: Inject yourself with a safe amount of government-authorized heroin.

That’s right, folks. According to an Associated Press story published earlier this week, a landmark program aimed at improving the lives of addicts through supervised, safe measures of heroin injections has officially been approved, making it both permanent, and legal.

The recently approved program is offered in 23 centers across the country, includes counseling from professionals, and is even covered with health insurance.

Unofficially in existence for the past 14 years, the program is designed to give addicts the help they need, and teach them how to live better lives.

So how does it all work? According to the AP story, an addict can go to one of the 23 centers that offer both the injections and counseling and receive treatment through a carefully measured dose that does not cause a big high, but instead simply satisfies cravings.

Those concerned about the cost of such treatment need not worry, since all people living in Switzerland are required to have health insurance.

While we Editorial Board members do not encourage or endorse any consumption or use of drugs that will potentially place harm on one’s own health, we are impressed with the progressive attitudes some countries have on the ever-present war on drugs, in comparison to the United States.

Since the war on drugs campaign was first recognized in 1971 by then-President Richard Nixon, the country has struggled with finding ways to successfully combat the issue.

Every time a new U.S. president enters office it’s not long before he comes to terms with being left with what seems like the same cursed challenge to successfully address the war on drugs head on.

To us, it’s clear some new approaches need to be experimented with. In order to solve and reduce the problems associated with drugs — like crime and death — we need to consider a more progressive attitude about the entire war on drugs issue.

We should be looking toward Switzerland and other countries, which are embracing new, realistic ideas in order to address the global war on drugs. This should be done not only to reduce things like crime and death, but also to better the lives of those who just can’t seem to escape the lifestyles and addictions associated with drug use.