After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine fell into chaos and poverty. While the Orange Revolution (2004 -2005) tried to brought progress, many Ukrainian towns continue to struggle with unemployment and economic depression. Drug use provides many Ukrainians with an escape from this harsh reality. The core of the drug scene are older users, many of whom have been addicts since the 1990s. Many of the addicts survive by preparing drugs, such as the methamphetamine Pervitin, and selling them to " newbie druggies ". The availability and ease of use of various methamphetamine compounds provide the country’s youth an easy route into serious dependence on drugs. Addicts frequently share needles, which lead to the spread of HIV, another epidemic common in Ukraine. Drug addiction contributes to the cycle of poverty and brings disaster to the users’ families, as addiction, disease, and poverty are passed on to the next generation.
© / Dima (35), addicted to drugs
© / Edig, 16, Sergei, 19, und Igor,Sergei's brother.
They said,they all take methamphetamine together.
© / Oleg, 34 received infection on his jaw after taking
methamphetamine for years.
© / Yana, 17 und Ema, 14, they both take methamphetamine.
© / Lyuba (40) und Alyona (32), Prostitutes, they works everday
to continue to take opium.
© / Homeless drug addicts camp.
© / Tanya (28), cooks pervetin at home.
© / Lena (30),injects pervetin while her partner rests after his injection.
© / Sidik (35),rests after taking pervitin. He has been taking drug for almost twenty years since he stayed in prison.
© / Sascha (27) with his friends. They are all addicted with drugs.
© / Sasha (32) und Vitalik (21), rest in a storage of an apartment. They are both homeless and daily use drug that they process from pain killer sold in pharmacies.
© / Dima (30), pervitin's addiction caused the bone fragility.
© / Sasha (51).He has been taking drugs after he spent some time in a prison when he was 17. He was infected with HIV 7 years ago when he used unwashed needles.
© / The correction center founded by New Life Church in America offers treatment for drugs addicts and alcoholics. The center has around 15 patients.
© / Sidik (35) cuts the finger by himself after his drug addiction caused some problems in his blood circulation.
© / Sasha received a short-time parole because Ira is supposed to give a birth soon.During the parole, he was still dependent on mehtamphetamine while working random jobs.
© / Police officer arrests a drug addict Sasha (28), for theft. Sasha has been taking drug about ten years and already spent some time in a prison in the past.