Chicago Heroin Photos - Junkie Photography - Injection Photos - John

Social Documentary Photography: “I just want to be happy.” – John Lee

Update: Today is March 2, 2014. John Lee was the main person I came to know during my photo documentary project on Heroin addiction. John surrendered to his addiction in the winter of 2016-2017 not long after getting out of…

Selecting Images…

I’m in the process of selecting the images for the next installment of “Against Doctor’s Orders: Heroin Addiction.” I’ve published four editions thus far, and I’m working on the fifth. Time-wise, the story is weeks out of sync with reality.…

John Lee, 1-31-2015

John Lee preparing his heroin rig in an abandoned East Garfield Park home.

John Lee fights off the urge to use, despite being dope sick, while out on day-pass.

John Lee Update: Fighting Heroin Addiction

I am very happy to report that John Lee wants to take a stab at getting clean. John was allowed a day-pass yesterday in order to attend to some personal business, and was able to successfully fend off both the…

John Lee draws heroin into his syringe while standing on an overpass above the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago, October 15, 2014

Expressway to Disease

UPDATE: 2/2/2017 I just discovered that John Lee passed away from a heroin overdose last week. John was a good guy and someone that I will miss. R.I.P John…  “Who knows what I’ve injected into my body,” said heroin addict…

Contemplation

Heroin Addiction is a Life of Grime

It is not uncommon for junkies to use dirty water to cook their heroin in. It’s absolutely frightening watching someone draw nasty water into their syringe from some discarded container found at the bottom of a stairwell.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 1, 2014 - John Lee, recovering from a blood infection which caused by a broken needle that was in his foot, sleeps on Hepatitis Boulevard.

Heroin Addiction: Only Two Endings…

I looked at John Lee as he plunged a needle deep into his groin, and I said, “you know John, there are only two endings to this story; one where you get clean and straighten out your life, and another…