Vienna: Tragic drug abuse – 22-year-old dies in her apartment!

Vienna: Tragic drug abuse – 22-year-old dies in her apartment!

In a tragic turn of events, the life of a 22-year-old woman ended on October 22, 2024, in an apartment on Quellenstrasse in Favoriten, Vienna. The plan was to consume drugs together with two men, 19 and 29 years old. During the meeting, the 29-year-old injected morphine tablets into the crook of the woman's right arm. The woman, a right-hander, was unable to make the shot herself, which proved fatal. After the injection, she experienced shortness of breath and lost consciousness.

Instead of immediately alerting emergency services, the 29-year-old instructed the younger man to get naloxone from a nearby night pharmacy. Due to difficulties nearby, the 19-year-old was initially unable to find a pharmacy and only received the life-saving medication after about 20 minutes. The drama continued when he returned to the apartment hours later and could no longer find the older man. It wasn't until around 20 hours later that he contacted the victim's mother, who was desperately looking for her daughter. Ultimately, the woman died of central respiratory paralysis, which could have been prevented if first aid had been provided in time.

The legal consequences

The 29-year-old now faces a charge of assault resulting in death, which could see him face a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years. The 19-year-old, however, is charged with failing to provide assistance. Such incidents raise increased questions about responsibility around drug users and the importance of acting quickly in critical situations.

The background to this tragedy reflects a larger problem that is becoming increasingly present in our society, namely drug abuse. According to Statista, almost 50% of 18 to 25 year olds in Germany have had experience with illegal drugs. The numbers are also alarming in Austria. Problematic substances such as opioids and especially heroin are often involved.

Opiate intoxication and its dangers

Opiate intoxication, as occurred in this case, is a dangerous poisoning of the body through an overdose that can lead to respiratory depression, severe impaired consciousness and, in the worst case, death. Flexikon describes the clinical symptoms of this poisoning, which also include constriction of the pupils and a drastic decrease in body temperature. In this case, acting quickly would have been crucial to protect further lives.

At a time when drugs such as cocaine and crack are experiencing a worrying increase in major cities, we as a society must remain vigilant. In particular, it is important to be aware of the risks of mixed consumption, as such a combination can have unpredictable consequences. The tragic incident in Favoriten shows once again how serious the consequences of drug use and inadequate assistance can be in critical moments.