BERNE, Switzerland, Nov. 29 -- Citizens of Switzerland will vote Sunday on whether to continue a test program of giving heroin to addicts.

The Swiss Parliament has given its approval for the new drug policy but the referendum goes before voters this weekend, swissinfo. com reported Friday.

Christoph Burki at the Koda center in Berne said to be eligible for the program, patients must have experienced at least two years of addiction and failed in at least two attempts to kick their habit.

"In reality our patients are on average 12 years dependent and already have 10 therapy attempts behind them when they start," Burki said.

Burki said research results "clearly show" such heroin support treatment prevents impoverishment and can "unbelievably" reduce the mortality rate of these drug addicts.

Swissinfo noted one argument for providing heroin addicts the drug is that it results in reduced crime to pay for their habit.

"That finding was very well shown by Martin Killias, an independent criminologist," Burki said. "He confirmed a massive and impressive reduction in crime in all areas -- robbery, serious drug crime, prison stays, court cases. The rate was down about 80 percent."

At the end of July there were 1,300 heroin patients registered in Switzerland. About 16,000 people received methadone treatments.

The heroin pilot program began in 1994 and now has about 210 patients. (UPI)