Chris Arnade was a trader on Wall Street for 20 years until 2012 when he left to focus on photography. Having been involved in a project with Hunts Point Alliance for Children, he got to know some of the local residents in Hunts Point, South Bronx, the poorest neighbourhood in New York City, who were trapped in poverty, addiction and prostitution. With their permission he has been taking their pictures and sharing their stories. His ‘Faces of Addiction’ series documents the lives of these people who have become his friends.

Some people might prefer to look the other way and pretend other people aren’t living like this. But the harsh truth is they are and I hope instead the stories on this page inspire more people to support harm reduction and decriminalisation for drugs and prostitution, which Chris Arnade also believes is the best legislation for people who take drugs…