In most European cities, services for people who use drugs are scattered across the map, fragmented by funding lines, bureaucratic boundaries, or political controversy. Vienna chose a different path. Our new film takes viewers inside Suchthilfe Wien, one of the most comprehensive and integrated municipal addiction-care systems in Europe — a place where essential services are not only coordinated, but physically under one roof.
At the heart of the story is Jedmayer, the city’s flagship low-threshold drop-in centre in downtown Vienna. Here we filmed interviews with staff who describe what it means to have a space where anyone can walk in, find safety, get practical support, and simply be treated with dignity. Jedmayer offers counselling, crisis intervention, and a warm welcome in an environment built on trust rather than control. Services offered by Suchthilfe are sensitive to the needs of diverse groups of people who use drugs, including women and LGBTQ individuals.
But the building is much more than a drop-in. One floor above, we documented Vienna’s shelter for homeless people who use drugs, which provides beds, hygiene facilities, meals, and respite for those who live on the margins. Vienna is world famous for its progressive housing policies. Suchthilfe’s version of housing first program offers affordable, supported and protected homes. Staff members highlight how stability can be the first step toward recovery, health, and social inclusion.
The film brings viewers into the Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) centre housed in the same complex. Medical staff explain the importance of low-threshold access, flexible dosing, and the seamless collaboration between clinicians and social workers. Receiving OAT in a non-punitive, supportive environment helps stabilise the lives of people who use drugs and reduce harms.
Another key element we explore is the needle and syringe program (NSP) operated on-site. Here, clients can obtain sterile injecting equipment, safely dispose of used materials, and receive advice on overdose prevention, safer use, and testing. By integrating the NSP into the wider service environment, Suchthilfe Wien ensures that harm reduction is part of a continuum rather than a standalone intervention. The NSP is now decentralised in Vienna, with sterile needles available at multiple distribution points across the city.
What makes Suchthilfe Wien remarkable is not just the range of services it provides, but the coherent philosophy that binds them together. Operated and funded directly by the City of Vienna, the centre embodies a public-health approach grounded in human rights, pragmatism, and compassion. The building itself becomes a symbol: a place where care replaces stigma, and where every person — regardless of their housing status, substance use, or health needs — can find comprehensive support.
Our film invites viewers to step inside this unique model, hear the voices of those who work and live within it, and reflect on what truly integrated addiction care can achieve.
Article and interviews: Péter Sárosi
Video: István Gábor Takács
Production by: Rights Reporter Foundation
Post-production by: Rights Reporter gGmbH
