The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
“A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous!”
Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
Aug 2014 back issue
by Angelos Tzortzinis
Greece wallows in a deep crisis but some of the consequences of that crisis have only just begun to appear. In the
dark alleys of central Athens, young women prostitute daily for five euros, their only way to obtain their daily fix of a
new drug named Sisha, also known as the ‘cocaine of the poor’. It costs just three to five euros per fix and is
manufactured from barbiturates and other ingredients such as alcohol, chlorine or even battery fluids. It is an easy
and cheap solution to calm the nerves of these addicted women. Many of them are forced to have sex without any
precautions, making them vulnerable to all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. Incidents of violence and rape are
also common.
As the government plans regeneration of the city, in time the city centre will change. But these women are the real
victims of the crisis. There will be no regeneration for them. They will remain scared.
A view of downtown Athens. Everyday drug addicts and prostitutes gather in these dark narrow streets.
Evaggelia, a drug addict and prostitute, sits on a hotel bed in central Athens. Evaggelia prostitutes daily for 5 euros.
Anna a drug-addict and her boyfriend Michalis at a hotel in central Athens. Anna prostitutes daily for 5 to 10 euros.
An alley near the main Omonoia square where drug dealers and addicts use it for dealing and drug use. A new drug
called ''sisha'', also known as the ''cocaine of the poor'' has conquered these narrow streets.
Katerina, a drug-addict that prostitutes daily for 5 euros, having just used drugs at a hotel bathroom in central Athens.
Anna a drug-addict and prostitute, has a shower in a hotel room in central Athens.
Dimitra, a drug-addict that prostitutes for 5 euros, stands in front of a hotel window in central Athens. Dimitra uses
sisha on a daily basis.
A hotel room in central Athens. There are some very cheap hotels in central Athens where prostitutes have sex with
men for a few euros.
Adriana, a drug addict and prostitute, lies on a hotel bed in central Athens after using drugs. Adriana was the only
woman who was not arrested earlier that day by a police patrol.
Stella, a drug-addict and prostitute, stands in front of a hotel window in central Athens.
Gia, a drug addict and prostitute, sits on a hotel bed in central Athens. Gia uses drugs every day.
Α sheet on a cheap hotel bed in central Athens.
Adriana stands disappointed because she can’t find a client for today. Even though she is nine months pregnant,
she prostitutes daily and uses drugs.
Adriana having just given birth to her baby at a local hospital in Athens.
Adriana's baby a few minutes after its the birth in a local hospital in Athens.
