FACING THE ADDICTION PROBLEM (People 2011, by Mischa Christen) - Swiss Press Award

SUCHTMAGAZIN

Mischa Christen

How can a photographer work to prevent addiction and substance abuse? I asked myself this question a year ago for freelance work on behalf of Suchtmagazin (Addiction Magazine). I tried to give the rather abstract and cliché-ridden drug addiction a concrete face – the images show snapshots of addicts – but without emphasizing the physical effects of drug addiction. I deliberately didn't want to impress with images of deterrence. The setting was chosen so that no direct connection to the drug scene or other social contexts was visible. The wintry atmosphere in the Lucerne area, which appears both wintry and romantic while also alluding to cold and isolation, is intended to highlight the special position of the portrayed individuals within society. In everyday life, many people deliberately look away and do not want to deal with addicts. Personal judgment is made quickly and is often characterized by indifference or even disgust towards this fringe group. Direct and serious eye contact challenges the person to engage with the person portrayed, and this can have a preventative effect. It's not about deterring people by depicting social situations or illnesses that they don't see themselves as affected by or at risk of. All the people portrayed have one thing in common: experience with cocaine and heroin. But each face tells its own story: about how they started using drugs, about their own experiences with drug addiction, and its effects on their psyche, their body, and their environment.