I'm Yura S. I was living at home until the year 2000. After that I started to run away from home and sniff glue. Why did I run away from home? Because my stepfather beat me. I started to beg for food and steal and get caught by the police for using substances. I was living in basements and sewers. Then they told me about 13 Pushkin street (LB day shelter), and I started to visit the center. Then they took me into the shelter on 58 Chkalova street. I started living in the shelter and going to school. Sometimes I give into my urge and use substances again, though.

--translation of the Russian original, written by Yura S.

Update February 2005: Because of severe abuse Yura's parents lost their parental rights, and Yura officially belongs to an orphanage now - however, the orphanage asked us to take care of him, because they know they can't handle his addiction to substances. Yura is still in the early stages of giving up substance use - sometimes he holds out well, other times he falls prey to his addiction. He was picked up by the police several times and sent to a mental institution (substance addicts are considered mentally ill in Russia), but as soon as he got out he used even more substances. We know we need to put a lot of patience and love into Yura, to help him get completely cured from his addictions.