TITLE: ADDICTION / Psychiatric Hospital – Addiction Treatment Ward

The admission ward for addiction treatment at the psychiatric hospital in Horní Beřkovice is where individuals take their first steps toward overcoming their dependency on drugs, alcohol, or gambling. It is a place where severely damaged lives and deteriorated health conditions begin the long process of recovery. Hope for healing intertwines with the despair of ruined lives, often accompanied by overwhelming financial debt. This ward marks only the beginning of their path to sobriety, with the approximately one-month stay serving primarily as a stabilization period. Patients are introduced to psychotherapy and begin to gain insight into their difficult circumstances.
Since 2019, I have been regularly visiting this ward, spending several days with the patients during each visit. I immerse myself in their community, listen to their stories, and witness both their successes and setbacks.

AUTHOR: Tom Řechtáček (Czech Republic)

Tom Řechtáček, born in 1979 in Prague, Czech Republic, is a photographer primarily focused on long-term documentary projects with a social theme. He battled heroin addiction for 15 years before successfully overcoming it in 2011. Photography became an important part of his recovery, serving as a form of therapy. His central subject is the community of people struggling with addiction, where he applies his personal experience and deep empathy to capture their realities. In addition to photography, he also conducts public lectures on addiction-related topics.