Fachverband Sucht

What Fachverband Sucht does

Fachverband Sucht is a non-profit professional association (Verein) headquartered at Weberstrasse 10 in Zürich, Switzerland, representing approximately 350 member organizations and around 50 individual members working in addiction prevention, counseling, therapy, harm reduction, and research across German-speaking Switzerland (Deutschschweiz). The association operates as the principal coordination body and policy voice for the sector, maintaining 17 specialized expert groups (Fachgruppen) spanning topics from acceptance-oriented housing and opioid agonist therapy to nightlife/recreational drugs, online addiction, and prevention.

Its product portfolio is content- and convening-led rather than technology-led. Core offerings include the quarterly Suchtspiegel newsletter (with an integrated political newsletter), a roughly 10x-yearly Fortbildungen & Veranstaltungen training bulletin, and continuing-education programs such as KT/KISS (controlled drinking / self-determined consumption, delivered under long-standing partnership with GK Quest Akademie, Heidelberg) and ZOS (goal-oriented addiction work). Events include the annual Präventionstag conference, the What's New series, and the Kantonalen Austauschtreffen Deutschschweiz (KAD). The association publishes political dossiers covering alcohol, cannabis, gambling, tobacco, and digital psychoactive products, plus annual Leistungsberichte since 2015, and contributes content to ecosystem platforms SafeZone.ch and alterundsucht.ch.

The business model is membership-anchored. Revenue is generated through collective membership fees scaled to AHV-eligible payroll of member organizations, individual membership at 215 CHF/year, paid training and event registrations (e.g., KT/KISS at 1,500-1,800 CHF, ZOS at 130-200 CHF, Präventionstag at 120-145 CHF), and tax-deductible donations offered at 100-1,500 CHF tiers. The association is governed by a Vorstand (board) elected by the General Assembly and led operationally since July 2024 by two Co-General Secretaries (Jonas Wenger and Facia Marta Gamez), supported by a small staff of about 11 including project managers for training and events and accounting/administration.

Name

Fachverband Sucht

Legal name

Fachverband Sucht

Website

https://fachverbandsucht.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fachverband Sucht is a Zürich-based non-profit association representing roughly 350 addiction-sector organizations and 50 individuals in German-speaking Switzerland, delivering training programs, policy advocacy, and 17 expert groups that coordinate the regional addiction profession.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Addiction prevention advocacy
• Continuing education training
• Expert professional networks
• Substance abuse policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership fees from collective (organizational) and individual members. Collective member fees are based on AHV-eligible payroll sum (larger organizations pay more). Individual membership fee is 215 CHF per year.
2. Training and event fees: Revenue from professional training programs and events. Examples: KT/KISS training at 1,500 CHF (members) / 1,800 CHF (non-members), ZOS training at 130 CHF (members) / 200 CHF (non-members), Präventionstag at 120 CHF (members) / 145 CHF (non-members).
3. Donations: Non-profit association accepts donations to support addiction assistance activities. Donation tiers include 100, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 CHF options. Donations are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fachverband Sucht is a non-profit professional association that provides policy advocacy, continuing education, and professional networking for the addiction prevention and treatment sector in German-speaking Switzerland. It generates revenue through annual membership fees (collective and individual), paid training programs, event fees, and tax-deductible donations, and serves as the unified political voice of approximately 350 member organizations and 50 individual professionals.

Product overview

Fachverband Sucht is a professional association of approximately 350 addiction prevention and aid organizations in German-speaking Switzerland, offering a portfolio of professional development and knowledge-sharing services. The core offerings include the quarterly Suchtspiegel newsletter (with integrated political newsletter), a Fortbildungen & Veranstaltungen newsletter (10x yearly), and various training programs such as KT/KISS (Controlled Drinking/Self-Determined Consumption) and ZOS (Goal-Oriented Addiction Work). The association organizes events including the annual Präventionstag and the What's New series, publishes Leistungsberichte (annual performance reports), maintains 17 Fachgruppen (specialist professional networks), and provides policy dossiers on addiction topics including alcohol, cannabis, gambling, and tobacco policy. The organization also supports knowledge platforms like alterundsucht.ch and SafeZone.ch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KT/KISS Training Programs Multi-module behavioral therapy self-management training program covering controlled drinking (KT) and self-determined consumption of illegal substances (KISS), based on Motivational Interviewing methodologies. Includes 2-3 preliminary sessions and 10-12 structured sessions. Priced at 1,500 CHF for members and 1,800 CHF for non-members. Designed for addiction professionals.
• Zielorientierte Suchtarbeit (ZOS) Training Half-day goal-oriented addiction work training workshop that addresses the alignment of practice with client needs, staff capacities, and funder requirements. Priced at 130 CHF for members and 200 CHF for non-members.
• Präventionstag (Annual Prevention Conference) Full-day annual prevention conference organized jointly with specialist groups in prevention, addressing current topics in addiction prevention. Priced at 120 CHF for members and 145 CHF for non-members. Includes workshops.
• Fachgruppen (Expert Professional Networks) 17 specialized expert groups covering the full spectrum of addiction topics from prevention and outpatient counseling to gambling, opioid agonist therapy, controlled consumption, nightlife/recreational drugs, gender-responsive work, and management. Provides structured professional networking for members.
• Suchtspiegel Newsletter Quarterly newsletter (4x/year) covering addiction policy updates, association news, new projects, and publications, with an integrated political newsletter component. Distributed via Mailchimp to members and subscribers.
• Politische Dossiers (Policy Dossiers) Policy dossiers covering alcohol policy, cannabis policy, gambling policy, tobacco policy, and digital psychoactive products, presenting the association's positions on each. Available openly on the website.
• Leistungsberichte (Annual Performance Reports) Annual performance reports documenting the association's political priorities and specialist activities, available on the website from 2015 onwards.
• F+F Handbuch (Early Detection and Early Intervention Handbook) Handbook for early detection and early intervention (Früherkennung und Frühintervention) providing guidance for caregivers and professionals working with target audiences in the addiction field.
• What's New Event Series Event series presenting new research, projects, and developments in addiction work and policy. Listed under the association's Veranstaltungen section.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 350 member organizations plus 50 individuals representing the entire German-speaking Swiss addiction sector
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GK Quest Akademie, HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with GK Quest Akademie for delivery of KT/KISS (Controlled Drinking / Self-determined Consumption of Illegal Substances) training programs. The association co-offers these behavioral therapy self-management programs based on Motivational Interviewing methodologies. GK Quest provides the copyrighted training materials (manuals, participant handbooks, diagnostic guides) while Fachverband Sucht organizes and hosts the training in Switzerland.
• SafeZone (safezone.ch)minorOthersSafeZone is referenced as a partner platform on the Fachverband Sucht website. SafeZone is a Swiss online addiction support platform. The partnership involves cross-promotion and referral connections between the two platforms.
• alterundsucht.chminorOthersalterundsucht.ch is a national web platform on addiction and aging. The Fachverband Sucht develops content chapters for this platform, including translations into French and Italian for behavioral addiction topics.
• FASD Netzwerk SchweizminorOthersThe Fachverband Sucht is a partner of the FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) Switzerland Network, working on awareness and prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sucht Schweiz: National Swiss umbrella organization for addiction prevention covering all language regions; comparable as the broader national counterpart whose policy and prevention scope overlaps with Fachverband Sucht's German-speaking membership base.
• Radix Schweizerische Gesundheitsstiftung: Swiss foundation working on prevention and health promotion including addiction prevention; comparable as a wider health-focused NGO with overlapping prevention training and policy work, though not addiction-exclusive.
• Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS): German national umbrella association for addiction-related issues providing policy advocacy, information, and member services; comparable as a much larger linguistic neighbor running the same association-model playbook.

Emerging players

• SafeZone: Swiss online addiction support platform formally listed as a partner of Fachverband Sucht; comparable as an addiction-service ecosystem player focused on digital harm reduction and self-assessment tools.

Direct peers

• Infodrog: Swiss federal coordination office for addiction that interfaces with cantonal addiction services, similar Fachgruppen-style working groups, and publishes position papers on addiction policy; directly comparable as a knowledge and coordination hub for Swiss addiction professionals.
• Tobacco Control Switzerland / Arbeitsgemeinschaft Tabakprävention Schweiz: Swiss member association structure for tobacco prevention professionals, organized around policy advocacy, training, and member services; highly comparable as a vertical professional association in a closely related addiction domain.

Others

• Espace Sécurité (formerly Suchtpräventionsstellen): Cantonal addiction prevention coordination network across Switzerland; indirectly comparable as a professional coordination body for prevention specialists with training, materials, and policy engagement.

Regional players

• GREA (Groupement Romand d'Etudes des Addictions): The French-speaking counterpart professional association for addiction specialists in Switzerland; explicitly comparable as a peer trade/advocacy body, but operating in Romandie rather than Deutschschweiz.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fachverband-sucht

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fachverband Sucht