VietNamNet Bridge - Photos featuring lives of drug addicts are now on display at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, which opened on November 26.



The photos, taken by Pham Hoai Thanh, depicted different periods in the life of drug users, starting from how they were led to drugs, their struggle against drug use and their integration into the community.

Thanh spent one year working with 50 people who have quit their habit or are using the deadly substance to complete the collection.

Earlier, the event was held successfully in Hanoi, Hai Phong and the Republic of Korea.

The event was jointly organized by the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives and the Tomorrow Media company, under the auspices of the Open Society Foundations and the United States Agency for International Development via Pact Vietnam organization.

Following are some images shown at the exhibition:



Police arrest two drug traders.




I have been living in the Niem Nghia bus station for three years. I’ve never stolen anything.
I’m ready to work at any jobs so people don’t drive me away. I try to earn money
 to buy drugs because without them, I won’t stand the pain. I hope I can get free
Methadone but I couldn’t because I don’t have a permanent family registration.
Nguyen Van Bi, 19, resides in Niem Nghia bus station in Hai Phong northern province






Drug makes my life miserable so in 2003, I determined to give it up at a rehabilitation
center in Nghe An province where I knitted 10 bamboo mats per day.
Phan Van Kien, 35, in Nghe An.







The life of drug addicts at a rehabilitation centre.











I have given up drugs by myself, so many drug addicts have asked me to help them since then.
Many people from other provinces have been creeping into my steel cage to shrug off drugs.
 So far, some hundreds of drug users have visited my house.
Nguyen Xuan Cuong, 39, from Thai Nguyen northern province



























PV