The Journey

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project © ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project © ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project View all images ↓
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Since 2021, I have been following the personal and educational journey of a group of residents of San Patrignano, one of the largest long-term residential communities worldwide for the rehabilitation of individuals with drug addiction-related issues.

THE JOURNEY

According to the United Nations’ World drug report 2021, “drug use killed almost half a million people in 2019, while drug use disorders resulted in 18 million years of healthy life lost, mostly due to opioids. In 2020, around 275 million people have used drugs, up by 22% from 2010.” The devastating effects of drug use have not been stemmed since last century to date.

Therapeutic communities (TCs) for addictions, methadone maintenance therapy or detox programs are are just some of the many examples of answers to drug addiction problems. TCs aim at the change toward a drug-free life in the outside society. Overall, around 2500 facilities using TC-type interventions were identified in 2011 across Europe, of which 708 in Italy.

San Patrignano is an Italian long-term drug recovery residential community, considered among the largest worldwide. 540 acres, more than 26,000 people hosted since 1978 and 4,000 years of prison converted in rehabilitation programs.

These photos are part of an ongoing project launched in 2021 on the educational and personal development of residents. I usually spend at least two days a month with residents who work in the kennels, one of the activity areas of the community.

At every moment residents face their own limits, fears, frailties. Sometimes reality is so hard to face that it is necessary to exclude it from the visual field, to disconnect from the past for a while, trying to find the strength to restart. For the first year letters represent the only contact with the outside. There are often human relations to be, at least, understood. Sharing emotions is the key. The "senior" residents, nearing the end of their rehabilitative journey, try to help the "young" ones to recognize the mechanisms of addiction and get away from the cage of the negative habits.

It is a hard, deep and long fight with not predictable ending. But it’s worth it. Always.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Veronica, 25 yo, entered the community three years ago, on Christmas Eve.She had heard about the San Patrignano tradition of admitting people waiting in front of the community gates during the day before Christmas.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Fish and residents in the dining hall at the end of the meal. Sometimes reality is so hard to face that it is necessary to exclude it from the visual field. It is necessary to disconnect from the past for a while, trying to find the strength to restart.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Elisa, 26 yo, about two years in the community, making the last check of the day in the kennels. Living in the community is an all-encompassing experience.Every single moment residents deal with their own limits, fears and frailties.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Kevin, 24 yo, is taking care, changing bandages, of Biba, a dog of 9 yo, in the veterinary lab of the kennels. Kevin is now a senior resident so he is allowed to administer medications to the dogs in the community kennels, he 1970s, hosts rescue dogs.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Veronica, 25 yo, three years in the community.“Among the problems that affect the addicts, drug use is the least relevant”, Vincenzo Muccioli, the founder. Veronica will soon complete the program. Now it is time to plan the reintegration phase.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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The basketball court and kindergaren.San Patrignano covers an area of 540 acres, in the hills between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic sea, in central Italy.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Left to right: Martina, 26 yo, and Cristina, 28 yo, pause during a morning break in the kennel. The days’ rhythms are determined by compulsory community activities, as well as selected ones, such as studies and sport. Little time for inactivity.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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The dining room can accommodate up to 1500 people. Three claps by the room manager and a thousand people waiting at the tables sit up at the same time, instantly, then lunch can begin.One can choose what to eat, just one rule: no leftovers.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Left to right: Giovanni, 22 yo, Giacomo, 23 yo, and Matteo, 23 yo. hopes to become a healthcare assistant during his stay in the community. Meanwhile, he spends his free time in the accommodation centre where, since the 1990s, people with AIDS live.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Left to right: Martina, 26 yo, and Sara, 25 yo, respectively two years and one year in the community.Sara is facing her difficulties, the challenge of not hiding her frailties. Asking for help can be scaring.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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The house where the girls working in the community kennels live. Residents of the same sex assigned to the same working area usually live together. For three years this house will be called home.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Jessica, 26 yo, two years in the community with Donatella.Jessica was living on the streets when Donatella, a stranger, rescued her. A few days later Donatella welcomed Jessica into her home."Try, otherwise you will die" Donatella said one year later.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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A letter from home. "Dad reads you". For about a year, letters represent the only contact with the outside world. A letter, especially in the beginning of the journey, can be destabilizing, to the point of questioning the journey itself.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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At the top is Graziella, 27 yo. At the bottom, from left, are Sara, 19 yo, and Janita, 24 yo. Each person arrives at San Patrignano as an individual, often in a defensive isolation that can sometimes seem unreal. Pain has no unit of measurement.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Kevin, 24 yo, three years in the community. After finishing the program, Kevin would like to work with dogs. Whatever the outcome, Kevin does not want to burden on his own family anymore.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Left to right: Roomy, Elena, 23 yo, Elisa, 26 yo, and Martina, 26 yo, in the community in the race field. Residents are always encouraged to gain independence from the environment, respectful of others.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Elena, 23 yo, about two years in the community. “The core of the problem is not drug, nor the abstinence crisis. It is the human being with his own fears”, Vincenzo Muccioli, the founder.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Resident walking on an internal road.Only senior residents, close to completing the program, can move around alone. Only group workouts are permitted. Loneliness requires stability.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - Image from the The Journey photography project
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Elisa, about two years in the community. Shortly after entering Elisa had to take a day-trip to the city. She had forgotten how strong flavours, colors and noises were. She was overwhelmed. That day she became aware of wanting to complete her journey.

© ELISA MARIOTTI - A green area within the community. It will be a hard, deep and, maybe, never-ending fight. But it is worth it. Always.
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A green area within the community. It will be a hard, deep and, maybe, never-ending fight. But it is worth it. Always.

The Journey by ELISA MARIOTTI

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