RAVAGED BY DRUGS
SHOCKING mugshots reveal the physical toll of long-term drug abuse on addicts who have scratched off their skin, lost teeth and rapidly aged
The deteriorating faces document people allegedly hooked on cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other substances.
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The series was shared as America is in the midst of an Opioid crisis where 130 Americans die from an overdose every day.
Some of the shocking side-by-side comparisons revealed the rapid ageing caused by drug use and scabby wounds from addicts scratching their skin.
One of the most dramatic in the terrifying collection was of a 46-year-old male, who was first arrested in 2009 for a cocaine related offense.
TOOTHLESS, SCABBED & MALNOURISHED
The first mugshot showed him with a fuller face but over the years and following five more arrests it progressively became more gaunt.
By the final photograph in 2014, his heavily wrinkled face was highlighted due to extreme tooth loss.
Another showed a 30-year-old female's transformation from looking healthy in 2009 to scabby in 2014. She was arrested for heroin use.
By the final photograph, she had large black rings under her glazed over eyes, her skin was a sickly yellow color and face showed several bruises.
Others included a woman who appeared to have suffered severe eye trauma, another lady who's face had large red wounds and one person with a deathly-thin face.
Not only does the body deteriorate in a rapid fashion, the face is dramatically affected as well.
Faces of Addiction, Rehabs.com
The photographic series entitled Faces of Addiction appeared on the Rehabs.com and hoped to illustrate "just how shocking these changes can be."
The description read: "Few things take a physical toll on the body quicker than illicit drugs.
"This is especially seen with substances like methamphetamine, heroin and crack cocaine.
"Not only does the body deteriorate in a rapid fashion, the face is dramatically affected as well."
The Department of Health & Human Services revealed that 19.7million Americans, aged 12 and over, suffer from a substance use disorder.
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The study from 2017, also found that 38 per cent of adults suffered with drug addiction.
They estimated that drug abuse and addiction costs America more than $740bn (£576bn).
That figure comes from a combined total of healthcare expenses, crime-related expenditure and lost workplace productivity.
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