An addict holds a so called set in his hands. This is sold for 50 Indian Rupees, a little more than 1 USD, and usually consists of a syringe, a ampoule of Buprenorphine (semi synthetic opioid), a ampoule of Diazepam ( a benzodiazepine derivate drug), a ampoule of Avil (an antihistamine) and two syringes.

Fakir stands in front of a mirror while a picture of him, taken years before, can be mounted to a wall of his room. Fakir, now 30 years old, went to a few rehabs from 2002 onwards till the last dating back to the end of 2011. Back then he was addicted to smoking heroin and still with the support of his mother trying to change her youngest son's life to better. She died 6 years ago and left a vacuum in Fakir's life.

Fakir prepares for one of his daily injections. “Since my mother died everything has changed to the worse. If it wasn't for my two small children, I would have committed suicide a long time ago. This damn medicine…”, told me Fakir, crying about his loss and life, sitting lonely in his small room of the family’s house.

After injecting Fakir helps his 3 year old daughter Mania putting on her trousers. The piece of cloth which entangles his arm tight, making the injecting easier for him, seemed like an allegory for his life, a life in stagnation, being stuck �" Phas Gaya.

Fakir is holding a pork head which he is about to chop into pieces that later will be cooked and fried. The little money that his roadside food stall, offering fried pork, generates is just enough to keep his family running.

Mania, Fakirs daughter, plays with a plastic tube that her father uses as a tool for injecting. The prescription-only drugs used for injecting can be bought from almost any pharmacy around the corner as easily as they were cough syrup.

Pakori, an acquaintance, injects while Fakir’s daughter searches for something in the cupboard drawer. Pakori helped Fakir for some time running the road side food stall. Yet this and most other relationships are based on their addiction and Fakir is constantly deceived by false friends.

Fakirs wife looks skeptical at her husband after they had an argument about his addiction. Except the support of his wife and her family there is almost no one that Fakir can share his worries with. Fakir tries hard but his addiction has long ago tightened its grip around his body and his mind.

Fakir tries to wake up his acquaintance Pakori. After a fight over money that Pakori stole from him, Fakir decided to give him a second chance. A few days later he was disappointed again and eventually broke with him for good. Most of his relationships are based their addiction and Fakir is constantly deceived by false friends.

Fakir kicks his former acquaintances shirt into an open sewage drain. Pakori stole money from Fakir’s road side food stall the evening before.

In preparation of the injection Fakir wraps a piece of cloth tight around his arm, his wife watching him. She knows about her husband’s problems yet she doesn’t dare to interfere. Multiple times a day he injects a mix of a strong synthetic opioid plus an antihistamine that alongside a syringe and two needles is sold for 50 Indian Rupees, a little more than 1 USD.

After injecting, Fakir watches television while smoking a local cigarette. Since more than two years now Fakir is addicted to pharmaceuticals.

Fakir plays with his 1 ½ year old son Paras. His two small children seem to be just enough to keep him somehow living, dreaming and loving.

Fakir wraps a shawl around his neck a few days after he had been released from local detox/rehab center. After many months of abuse and the constantly worsening family situation Fakir had been forced to attend a 40 day rehab program for addicts. This new kind of drug abuse is not only constantly increasing but also effecting people from various social and cultural backgrounds.

A few days after Fakir had been release from the rehab he jokes around with his daughter Mania. These days his two small children seem to be just enough to keep him somehow living, dreaming and loving. Only they somehow save him from a life that many other addicts endure and worse.

In preparation of a celebration Fakirs wife applies a bleaching crème at her husband’s face. Except the support of his wife and her family there is almost no one that he could share his worries with.

Fakir is helping his son to cut the birthday cake for his second birthday. This day was not only a celebration for his son but also for Fakir and his wife since they had the 6th year wedding anniversary. They celebrated in the place of his wife’s sister since Fakir, who is living in his father’s house, had been socially out casted by his other relatives, including his father and brothers.

While Fakir is laying on the bed his wife comforts their son Paras. Their two small children are the ones that not only keep Fakir living, dreaming and loving but also give the whole family some kind of positive constant throughout their troubled life.

Fakir is filling out a form for his neighbor’s monthly gas delivery since he is one of the only persons in his street that is able to read and write. After coming back from the rehab and even before Fakir enjoys much respect from his neighbors since they know about his friendly and helpful nature.

Fakir is standing on the balcony of a rehab center that he had earlier visited because of his addiction. A few days after coming out of the rehab, and so being thrown back in his normal life and the daily ups and downs Fakir felt the rising urge of escaping this world, no matter how.

His wife gives money to her husband after he complained about toothache and so asked to buy some medicine.

Fakir is about to inject a few days after the rehab and after around 50 days of not using. In the India of the 21st century this kind of drug abuse has become a disturbing phenomenon and has lead and still leads to catastrophic consequences. While the homeless people of every age tranquilize their daily struggle other clients have entered the stage a long time ago: from simple day laborers earning a small living for their families to municipal employees easing their responsibilities in the job with a little injection here and there.

Fakirs wife is cleaning the room of the house in which Fakirs father is sleeping. She spends almost whole day long inside taking care of the children and the household.

Fakir takes a glass of water from his wife. After the rehab and a few days of confidence to overcome his addition, Fakir is again injecting daily. Since his family isn’t aware of this fact he doesn’t inject at home or in front of his children anymore but prefers to quench his addiction in more hidden places where other addicts meet.

For the first time after leaving the rehab Fakir has opened his roadside food stall, offering fried pork, again. The frustration about the mostly bad running business that generates is just enough to keep his family running is a constant in his life. Yet he doesn’t want to take on any other work since he says that he enjoys being his own boss, spending the day working on his own and talking to customers who visit his shop for a quick snack.

Mania watches her father who woke up a few minutes before. The confidence that Fakir got after leaving the rehab was slowly fading. His overall living and financial situation as well as the increasing amount of injections per day are some of the reasons for his constant worries and bad mood.

Fakir is standing on top of a run-down public toilet house that many of the homeless addicts of the area use as a place for injecting or as a shelter for the night. After the rehab and a few days of confidence to overcome his addition, Fakir is again injecting daily. Since his family isn’t aware of this fact he doesn’t inject at home or in front of his children anymore but prefers to quench his addiction in more hidden places where other addicts meet.

Fakir holds his son Paras in his arms who got injured as he fell on a brick. Fakir and his wife got into a bad argument since Fakir was supposed to look for his son while his wife was taking care about the household. I would like to tell something different but what the future holds for Fakir I don’t know. I hope he is going to try whatever he can to make life for his children, wife, and eventually for him better, overcoming the ups and downs of life which all of us have to face.

Fakir prays on a small shrine next to his house.