The mother of Anna (15) from Tyrol is completely at her wits’ end. She is addicted to drugs and fights for her life, “but there is no help”. It is one of many tragic cases that have come to light recently. The hands of the parents are tied by the legal situation.
“I can find no other way out than to go to the stock exchange,” says the Tyrolean. Anna (name changed) has had drug problems for about two years. “She was first caught when she was 13, I turned to psychologists. They have put together a help package. But by the time everything got going, it was unfortunately too late,” she explains. “After four days without my daughter being found, she was found along a road in the Zillertal. She nearly died from benzodiazepines.”
This was followed by admission to the child and adolescent psychiatric clinic in Hall. “But Anna was only accommodated there for one night. With great difficulty, she was transferred to the crisis ward and even agreed to go to rehab. However, she has not been able to realize this to date due to lack of space. I also fell on deaf ears in youth care.”
No influence on decision
The problem is Austrian law. “As a mother I have no influence on decisions and I am not allowed to send my addicted daughter to rehab. That is for you to decide – unless you endanger yourself or others. And the offer to transfer the children to an accessible facility for young people in problem situations makes no sense at all, because the success rate is zero.”
Total misunderstanding from parents
The referral by a doctor also did not help. “The responsible judge ruled after five minutes that Anna was not a danger to herself and others and emphasized that the use of drugs in Austria was a free decision – also for children.” The 14-year-old was released – without giving her mother the chance to pick her up. “Children are not allowed to walk home from school alone when they are sick. But they are allowed to leave the clinic with drugs – so to me they are very likely self-threatening?” asks the mother.
The hands of the parents are tied. “Politicians need to empower us to help the kids so we don’t have to stand by their graves. It’s unlikely that addicted kids will take this step on their own if adults can’t agree.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
