Smoke That Burns - The Crack epidemic in Switzerland

A raw and necessary journey inside the reality of crack cocaine use in Switzerland, a growing phenomenon that - which started on the streets of America's great metropolises - is now taking root in Swiss urban centers as well. The documentary explores the cities of Lugano, Zurich, Lausanne, and Geneva, mapping a silent epidemic advancing among the margins of society. The film gives voice to social workers, street mediators, managers of “consumption rooms” and night shelters: professionals who, every day, face the reality of crack trying to reduce the damage, protect lives, and offer alternatives. Between direct testimonies, urban environments on the edge, and glimpses caught in the night, the documentary shows a hidden Switzerland, vulnerable, but also full of humanity and concrete attempts at change.

Director

Giorgia Blotti

Released

July 22, 2025

Language

Italian