Addictions including smoking cessation

Addictions are a major public health problem. Tobacco addiction, for example, is responsible for 15% of the deaths in Switzerland and heads up the list of avoidable causes of death. Unisanté is committed to fighting tobacco addiction, notably through the study of the use of new tobacco products (electronic cigarettes, single-use puffs, etc.), the toxicological aspects and the radioactivity of tobacco-derived products as well as preventing smoking and the development of actions to help people stop smoking, for example.

Unisanté also has expertise in the field of drug and narcotic addictions. For more than 20 years, our specialists have been publishing reports assessing the medico-social care systems for addictions, for example, as well as publishing monitoring analyses of the consumption of different substances (opioids, cocaine, cannabinoids, etc.) or in different settings (consumption at parties, in safe consumption establishments, etc.). In this way, Unisanté is helping to produce knowledge that supports public policies in the fight against the consumption and trafficking of drugs.

The health of children, adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 25 is also among Unisanté’s key research topics. Specific studies are undertaken into this population, particularly regarding their substance use or their use of screens and the Internet.