Vienna addiction milieu

Girlfriends dead: sad trial of 18-year-olds

An 18-year-old in Vienna financed her drug addiction by stealing perfume.

(Bild: zVg, stock.adobe.com, Krone KREATIV)

"Drug deaths are getting younger and younger" was the headline last week after the Ministry of Health presented its latest drug report. An 18-year-old girl from Vienna, who is on trial for attempted robbery, lost two of her best friends to drug abuse. In this sad trial, the focus is not on the verdict. Rather, it is the concern for the addicted girl.

The statistics are one thing, the faces and stories behind the figures are another. A few days after the Ministry of Health presented the latest drug report, an 18-year-old girl is brought before the Vienna Provincial Court in handcuffs.

Father threatened to kill her
Verena (name changed) has to answer to the lay assessor's court for several thefts and attempted robbery. "She stole perfume from drugstores to finance her addiction," begins the public prosecutor. The teenager had been a drug addict since she was 16 years old. When her father cut off her financial support, she went to his apartment on October 10, 2023, kicked the door angrily and raged aggressively: "If you don't give me money, I'll kill you," she screamed. Afraid of his own daughter, the man called the emergency services that evening.

During the thefts, Verena was out with her girlfriend, who was also an addict and had died of an overdose in the meantime. "It affected me when I read in the file that Naomi (name changed) had died. She also sat in front of me years ago. As a defendant and as a witness," says the experienced juvenile court judge Daniela Zwangsleitner.

Current drug report

• Nationwide 248 drug deaths in 2022 means a record high since statistics began in 2003.
• The proportion of under-25s among all overdoses rose from 18% in 2018 to 27% in 2021 (source: Gesundheit Österreich)

"Great concern that she will use again"
"Two friends died," confirms the 18-year-old in a low voice. In the courtroom, she admits: "I only said that I was going to kill him because I was impulsive. I'm not a murderer after all."

The young woman makes an intelligent impression. Her subordinate clauses hint at bad experiences in her childhood. She confesses: "I had strong suicidal thoughts. I'm better now. Imprisonment has done me good. I decided to go to therapy in Carinthia. I've been promised a fixed place there." She could start as early as next week. But what happens until then if she is released after the trial?

If they don't manage it now, I'm afraid it will come to a sad end. Now it's in their hands.

Richterin Daniela Zwangsleitner

Bild: Reinhard Holl

A social worker from the shared flat where Verena lived before her arrest speaks up with concern: "We're very worried that she'll go out and start using again." She believes that a seamless transition to therapy would be expedient. However, there is no provision for young people to be picked up and accompanied directly to inpatient drug treatment. A loophole in the law?

Judge: "Number of drug-related deaths at record level"
"But until then, there is no such thing as being absent," warns Ms Rat as she issues a six-month conditional order for inpatient care at the therapy center in Carinthia.

"Just a few days ago, we read that the number of drug-related deaths has reached a record high ... If they don't manage it now, I'm afraid it will come to a sad end. Now it's in your hands. Make something of your life," Zwangsleitner tells the Viennese woman on her way to freedom. "In any case, I would like to thank you for the opportunity," replies Verena. Only time will tell whether she will be able to make the most of it. Perhaps even the next few hours.