GENEVA (AP) Switzerland has some of the most relaxed policies in the world
toward illegal drugs users. But that may all change Sunday, when voters
decide whether to take a tougher stance.

The referendum is the work of ``Youth Without Drugs,'' a movement of mainly
rightwing groups who collected 100,000 signatures to bring a proposal to a
vote by the people.

Condemning Switzerland as the ``drug island of Europe,'' the groups argue
that current policy encourages young people to experiment with narcotics and
get hooked.

There are an estimated 30,000 drug addicts in Switzerland, one of the highest
rates of addiction in Europe. But deaths have dropped from a peak of 399 in
1994 to 312 last year.

Supporters say the death rate has fallen because of the lenient policy.
Critics say a tougher policy would lead to a lower addiction rate.

Swiss drug policies include free needleexchange programs to prevent the
spread of the AIDS virus and therapy with the heroin substitute methadone for
about 14,000 addicts.

But most controversial is the state distribution of heroin to some 1,100 of
the most hardened junkies. Addicts who have rejected all other therapy and
withdrawal pay the equivalent of $10 for daily injections from doctors at
certified medical centers.

Both the methadone and heroin programs would end if the proposal is approved
Sunday. The government has frozen the heroin program pending the outcome.

The Youth Without Drugs initiative is ``unrealistic, unsuitable and
ineffective,'' Switzerland's sevenmember federal executive said. ``It
nurtures the illusion of a wonder solution for the drug problem. But the
proposed restrictive measures would not help the majority of drug addicts.''

Three of four government coalition parties say the liberal policy should
continue. So do trade unions, mainstream church groups, police
representatives and the vast majority of youth and drug workers.

Even so, the vote appeared too close to predict, with feeling running high on
both sides.

``Even an initial contact with drugs can be the first step toward
addiction,'' read a poster financed by the Youth Without Drugs committee,
which boasts former ski star Pirmin Zurbriggen among its backers.

``That means untold misery for our children, youth, family and society,''
read the poster, featuring a photo of a smiling woman hugging her small
child.

``Repression and prevention force drug addicts back into illegality,''
countered the Committee for an Honest Drug Policy. ``The drug mafia alone
profits from this.''

``But there is an alternative to repression the effective and successful
drug policies of the federation,'' it said.