Opioid Crisis Project

The opioid crisis is the worst misuse and dependency of a drug in history and is taking the lives of thousands of people every year. According to an article by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.” This epidemic refers to widespread number of deaths and hospitalizations that are caused by opioid drugs. Some of these are due to post-op prescription use that eventually becomes an addiction. This highly addictive substance kills about 47,450 people each year and will continue to take lives unless there is change.

There is a huge connection between photojournalism and the Opioid crisis. James Nachtwey spent the past year photographing and documenting the Opioid crisis with TIME’s deputy director of photography, Paul Moakley. These photos were extremely impactful and eye-opening. In most of the photos, people were injecting heroin in the public. Photojournalism brings insight to many people and makes this epidemic more of a reality. Photographing and interviewing people who are affected may provide an explanation or possible solution to this problem. It also helps others understand the severity of it. Many people have been affected by this crisis either indirectly or directly. James Nachtwey helped bring awareness to this epidemic by giving others a visualization of people in their addictive state of mind.  

There was one photo taken of two women sitting on the streets and San Francisco an injecting themselves with heroin. The women injecting herself with heroin, Pangea, said, “I’m getting older. I see less and less of the future I want for myself and more and more of this taking over.” Heroin and other opioids are so addicting that they start to control every aspect of people’s lives. An article by Yale Medicine explains why an opioid user would become less motivated, “It causes chronic and lasting changes in the brain reward system, causing the person to feel less motivation and get less pleasure from other, naturally occurring rewards.” When the brains reward system is altered less dopamine is released, which is the neurotransmitter responsible pleasure. This results in the lack of motivation seen in many addicts like Pangea who may be jobless, financially unstable, or homeless.  

Pangea on the right
Photo by: James Nachtwey

  There was another photo of a man named Chad being revived by EMTs because he overdosed in his car. He said that his fourth overdose led him to seek treatment. This drug is so addictive that people continue to use it despite the harmful effects.  Opioid overdose is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. According to an article by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, “Prevention and access to treatment for opioid addiction and overdose reversal drugs are critical to fighting this epidemic.” In other words, the best way to fight this epidemic would be to prevent it from happening or to seek help. Having the available antidotes to an opioid overdose may reduce the chance of death by but not stop the addiction. It took Chad four life-threatening overdoses to finally seek help.

Photo by: James Nachtwey

This widespread problem does not affect a certain race, gender, or profession. Anyone who takes this drug can become addicted to it. Not only does addiction affect the users, it also affects their families. Many emotional and physical hardships arise being a family member of an addict. According to an article by Addiction Center, “1 in 5 children grow up in a home where a parent abuses drugs or alcohol. Witnessing the trauma of a parent suffering addiction at a young age has long-term effects on the child.” This can affect a child’s mental health, cognitive abilities and put them at risk for addiction. Nachtwey photographed a woman being hugged by someone at her granddaughter's funeral. She was a 24-year-old heroin addict. Her grandmother, Cheryl, made a compelling statement saying, “After Michaela died, I saw it clear as day. They’re not only destroying themselves, they’re destroying us.” This epidemic is tearing apart families and causing an abundance of emotional damage.  

Photo by: James Nachtwey

Throughout my life, I have seen this crisis first-hand. Someone I know had a surgery and were prescribed an opioid for pain and acquired a dependency and eventually an addiction for the drug. They were jobless, depressed and unmotivated. Their family experienced many financial hardships because of this costly addiction. Money would be stolen and anything that could be sold for money would be missing too. They experienced withdrawal symptoms when they were not taking the drug which were very unpleasant to watch. Symptoms of withdrawal would include nausea, diarrhea, pale skin, shakiness, irritability, and aggression. It is hard to see someone you know in this condition. You want the best for them, but addicts will not seek help unless they want it for themselves. This drug takes control of every aspect of people’s lives and causes them to act as a completely different person when they are on the drug. 

Photojournalism has created an excellent way to bring attention to this national crisis. Photojournalists have the power to capture the graphic and unpleasant parts of addiction and share them with the entire world. James Nachtwey was able to capture different stages of addiction through the “Opioid Diaries” report. He captured an active user, who is so engulfed in her addiction and sees nothing for herself beyond the drug. He captured someone who overdosed 4 times and finally got help. He captured a grandmother mourning over the loss of her young granddaughter. The opioid epidemic is a huge problem and photojournalists are bringing insight to it in hope to make an impact. Nachtwey’s photos share the gruesome aspects of this addiction, but they also depict the harsh reality of the epidemic. This epidemic is real and is taking the lives of thousands of people every year. Have these photos impacted you?

Photos by: James Nachtwey