To cease drug addiction, some have to take sleeping pills continuously; some even cut their wrists, while some ask their families to confine or chain them. In the struggling against drugs, some are successful and some fail.

These are real stories in the “Facing drugs” photo exhibition by Hoai Thanh, the first of its kind about the life of drug addicts in Vietnam.

The photographer spent over one year with 50 drug addicts to take these photos. The exhibition will close on June 25, at 29 Hang Bai, Hanoi.

Khuat Thi Oanh, a representative of the organizing board said: “We hope that this exhibition will not only help reduce discrimination against drug addicts, but also encourage them to live more positively. Above all, we want them to understand that they are not alone in the war against drugs”.

Below are some photos at the exhibition.

Deeply understanding the hardship and pains of drug rehabilitation - after successfully
recovering from drug addiction, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, 39, in the northern province of
Thai Nguyen, has become a volunteer to help other drug addicts.

This is a group of senior drug addicts. The eldest is 61 years old. Their families
confess they are helpless, with most of the group having taken narcotics for at least
a decade and failed rehab several times. They meet in a house in Cam Pha town, Quang Ninh Province to learn from each other’s experiences and help each other in rehab.

These young people hire a house on an island to rehab. Their families pay VND1.5 million (around USD80) a month for their family members to recover. Some families can afford to pay for a whole year but some have to leave the house after just a few months.

“I have to struggle every hour. It is very tense and tiring. I have gone through rehab many times, so sleeping pills are ineffective. Others take 5-7 pills but Ihave to take 20 pills, but the medicine is only effective for 2-3 hours,”
said Thang (white), 39, from Dien Bien City.

For Dang Tran Khanh, 32, from Hanoi, the chain pictured used to be used to chain him up.
Now it is used to secure his motorbike against thieves at lunchtime. Khanh has joined a group of volunteers to help other drug addicts.

To end his drug addiction, Tam, 27, in the southern province of An Giang,
lives in a small tent in a field to take care of his family’s crops. Through living in deprivation Tam can avoid other drug addicts. “Thanks to My’s encouragement (a woman addict), I can give up drugs. We now live here together,” Tam said.

Do Quang Khai, 34, assists others through rehab by sharing his experiences. He has saved two drug addicts from overdoses after attending a training course.

This old lady is very happy because her son has successfully rehabbed.
Her son, named Kien, is now running a motorbike washing service in the central province of Nghe An.

“I’m happier than many people because I have my baby and a job. I’m not
discriminated against and I have assistance from many people,” said Mong Linh, 32 from HCM City.