Swiss voters appear to be approving heroin program

Swiss voters yesterday appeared to be giving overwhelming support to a pioneering program providing government-authorized heroin to hardened addicts.

Projections based on early voting results yesterday indicated that 69 percent of voters approved making the program permanent. It has been credited with reducing crime and improving the health and daily lives of addicts since it began 14 years ago.

The projections were made by the widely respected gfs.bern institute for the state-owned SRG television and radio networks, based on actual voting returns.