"With heroin, it's a fixed fight, and you're gonna lose." -Ali
When I arrived on Hepatitis Boulevard this morning, I discovered two gentlemen taking a few moments to let the morning spring air hit their open wounds, wounds acquired after many years of heroin abuse.
Below is a photograph of abscesses caused, not so much by heroin itself, but by the material used to cut the heroin, and from addicts repetitively using the same needles.
Easy and free access to syringes is one way of helping to reduce the harm caused by chronic drug addiction. Over the past several months, I have distributed over 5,000 clean needles to addicts living on the streets of Chicago. This, is why.
For places and times to pick up free injection supplies be sure to check out the Chicago Recovery Alliance.