No matter how you feel about drugs, they change the way you see the world. They also change your face in Les Baker V’s series Inebrination.Baker took pictures of people while they were high on different drugs. Their favorite drug can be something as simple as alcohol or as dangerous as ketamine or crack cocaine. The pictures of drugs were then put on top of the portraits.
Les Baker V is a photographer, an artist, and a fan of Jeeps. He lives in Denver, Colorado. Because he cared about people with addictions, he made the Inebriation series. Baker said in an interview, “Substance abuse isn’t just a problem for homeless people or people who go in and out of rehab. It affects everyone in every way.”
Editor’s note: Drugs are dangerous and may ruin your life, so don’t try to recreate this at home.
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H/T bored panda demilked
Adderall
In the last 5–7 years, college students have been using Adderall more and more. It can make you feel more motivated, focused, and able to concentrate. This is probably the best way to think to be able to “pull all-nighters,” read hundreds of pages at once, and write long, in-depth papers. What many people don’t know is how often doctors and nurses use this drug.
LSD
A young woman took two hits of LSD during this event. I spent the day with her in a park while she “tripped out.” She noticed complicated images, brighter colors, and a general sense that she was more aware of what was going on around her.
Cocaine
This adventure lasted all night and started with a few drinks at a local bar. This person said that after a few drinks, some people make it a habit to grab a bag (of cocaine) to stay “level.” Cocaine’s side effects include making people more alert and giving them a sense of well-being and euphoria. Around 4 a.m., the night was over after a group of friends got together at a house for a late-night party.
Crack Cocaine
This was one of the most exciting nights. I saw him turn the cocaine into “Crack,” which can be smoked. It gets its name from the sound it makes when it is smoked, which sounds like crackling or popping. He said he had more energy, was more alert, and was more aware of what he saw, heard, and felt.
Psilocybin
Before we went out to a local nightclub, this man ate some mushrooms that made him feel like he was in a dream. He had a great “trip” because of the loud music, bright LED screens, and lasers. People have found that psilocybin makes colors look brighter and sounds clearer. Users have also said that, when used in the right way, it makes them feel more connected to nature.
THC
Marijuana is the most popular recreational drug, second only to alcohol. In the past few years, marijuana has gotten a lot of respect for the medical uses that are actually true. Since it is now legal in Colorado and Washington, it is becoming less of a taboo and easier to get than ever before. Soon, people in the US will know if taxing and controlling this substance will help the economy or hurt it. Twinkies came back at just the right time.
MDMA
She took some pure MDMA, which is also called “molly.” MDMA users can feel both mentally and physically happy, have more empathy, be more social, gain more insight, and have a better sense of touch. MDMA has been used in therapy for couples, and it is also thought to help treat PTSD. This person spent the rest of the night dancing with other people.
Caffeine
Millions of people need a cup of coffee in the morning to get ready for the day. Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep a person from getting sleepy and make them more awake. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, and it is legal and not regulated. In the US, 90% of adults drink caffeine every day.
Methamphetamine
On a hot summer night, I saw this man walking around the streets. He was wearing a full winter coat and no shirt. During our talk, he told me about how he told angels about his long battle with methamphetamine under a bridge. He said it felt like a sudden rush of pleasure, more energy, focus, and confidence.
Oxycontin
This man is a Vietnam veteran who has been taking painkillers for the past 20 years. Some people feel happy when they take opiates because these drugs also affect the parts of the brain that deal with rewards. Opiate abusers often try to get a stronger high by taking the drug in ways other than how it was meant to be taken.
Ketamine
Ketamine is becoming more popular as a cheaper alternative to MDMA and cocaine. This user said it was like watching the world turn into Legos and break apart, and then everything got smaller and flatter until it turned into a point.
Beer
Even though this is probably one of the most commonly used substances, I thought it was important to add it to the series. This man went to a few bars and drank only beer all night.
Hard Liquor
It’s likely that this has happened to most people. A night out drinking shot after shot, followed by another shot and maybe a few mixed drinks. We all know that it causes blurred or double vision very quickly.
Nicotine
Before cotton took over, tobacco was very important to the growth of the southern colonies in early America. In small amounts, it can work as a stimulant, and some people have said it can also work as a relaxant. People have known for a long time that nicotine is one of the hardest addictions to break. More than a billion people around the world use nicotine in some way.
