A heroin-addicted homeless woman takes off the tourniquet with the needle still in her arm in a public injecting site in Bradford. The floor is littered with needles, syringes and other injecting paraphernalia.
Photographer John Bolloten is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this social documentary photography. These images are from his project and future book ‘Nothing To See Here’. To see John’s gallery of projects and photographs click on any image.
Violence is common amongst this group, especially when spice is involved. This man was hit with the bottom of a beer can, leaving a semi-circle imprint on his forehead.
It is a common sight to see a number of homeless people sleeping outside in the city center, where winter temperatures are almost constantly below 0 degrees. Most have drug and alcohol issues.
Nothing To See Here explores the world of drug addiction in the northern English city of Bradford in West Yorkshire. The substance misusers here include a large group of entrenched long-term opiate (heroin) users, of which around 2000 use the city’s needle exchange program every year. The recently-outlawed “legal high” spice has gained an enormous foothold in Bradford, not just among heroin users but particularly with the homeless and those sleeping rough. This photography project is planned to be published in book form next year and will include images too disturbing to be published online. Further photographs can be seen at www.johnbolloten.co.uk
A man injecting into his groin, the site of choice when the easily accessible veins in the arms and legs collapse.
This man had been punched in the eye during an argument. Those affected with drug dependence, lack of housing and alcohol misuse live a precarious existence that none would freely choose.
Another casualty of spice use. I witnessed this same man collapse two days in a row after taking a cocktail of many drugs.
A long-term heroin user injects a speedball into his leg. A speedball is heroin and crack in the same syringe.
A young woman shows her tracks marks caused by daily injecting. She was not able to inject herself so her partner had to do it for her.
A collapsed man is watched over by medics, police and a drugs worker.
A young woman smokes crack cocaine in a city center public telephone box, watched by her partner. Sights like this are not uncommon but are largely unnoticed by the general public.
A young woman collapses on the pavement by the market after smoking spice. An ambulance appeared soon after and medical staff saved her life.
A small building in the city center that is used for injecting heroin. It is hidden behind heavy bushes and not visible to the public. Smack Heads is a derogative term for those addicted to heroin.
