The Swiss government's current drug policy has led to an increase in the number of older drug addicts seeking shelter, a shelter official says.

Urs Schwab, director of the Obdach shelter in the Swiss city of Lucerne, said a growing number of the country's drug addicts are living longer under the government policy, leaving shelter officials facing a new treatment challenge, Swissinfo said Friday.

"Thanks to the state's four-pillar drugs policy (state-sanctioned distribution of heroin or substitute drugs on prescription since 1994, among other measures), drug addicts are living longer," Schwab said.

"These people are absolutely not in the right place; we have neither the infrastructure nor the training to care for them adequately," he added.

Swissinfo said the Jobdach Association is attempting to address the healthcare issue by developing a new residential plan regarding individuals who are addicted to drugs, alcohol or medications.