Drama in Simmering: 17-year-old awake from emergency after drug coma!

Drama in Simmering: 17-year-old awake from emergency after drug coma!

On Sunday evening, June 15, 2025, a 17-year-old woman from Lower Austria was found in an apartment in Vienna-Simmering. The teenager was unconscious and showed signs of a drug overdose. One of the four men who were in the apartment alerted emergency services at 9:10 p.m. According to the emergency services, the young person showed external injuries, which then led to resuscitation. She was admitted to the Vienna General Hospital and was in artificial deep sleep in the intensive care unit until she woke up. Her condition is now stable and her life is no longer in danger, reports say 5min.at.

The Vienna State Police Directorate has initiated investigations against the four men, who are between 21 and 35 years old and are Syrian citizens. Three of them live in the apartment in question, while the fourth is an acquaintance. However, all men deny any sexual activity with the 17-year-old and have not yet been imprisoned. According to their statements, they “got to know the young people on the street in Simmering” and only offered them a place to sleep. In addition to evaluating traces, the investigation also includes examining the suspects' cell phones.

Drug situation among young people

The 17-year-old was previously reported missing by her parents on Friday, June 13, 2025. According to information from the Vienna professional rescue service, she is officially known for drug offenses. In general, the professional rescue service in Vienna is recording an alarming increase in drug use among under 18-year-olds. Between 2018 and 2023, there was a tripling of deployments due to drug intoxication: from 75 deployments in 2018 to 231 in 2023. This illustrates the worrying development of drug abuse among young people in Vienna, as the The press reports.

The increase in the consumption of benzodiazepines, which are often consumed in combination with alcohol, is particularly dangerous. These medications, prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, have become particularly popular among teenagers. Daniel Lichtenegger from the Federal Criminal Police Office expresses concern about these developments and calls for measures to simplify the laws when dealing with drugs. Ewald Lochner, coordinator for psychiatry, addiction and drug issues, emphasizes the need for a task force to analyze cases after drug abuse deaths.

Context and social impact

In addition, it has been shown that young people today are often influenced by a drug-savvy pop culture that discusses drug use in social media and music videos. Reports of overdoses and sedative abuse are increasing. In particular, the “Stadtparkkinder” in Vienna, a group of young people who display conspicuous consumer behavior, often end up in psychiatric emergency rooms. The 2022 Addiction Epidemiology Report indicates a largely stable situation regarding the use of illegal drugs, although the use of cannabis and other substances among young people appears to be increasing recently. Experts say parents should talk openly with their children about drugs to protect them from the dangers of use, as in Profil.at is emphasized.

The current situation is not only worrying, but also represents a societal challenge that requires urgent action. The case of the 17-year-old from Vienna-Simmering is only part of a larger problem that requires both prevention and education.