SAN FRANCISCO —

In the last four years, Austin Draper has suffered from a serious heart condition, endocarditis, six times. He had to have lifesaving surgery for three of those infections.

"It can progress really quickly and basically makes you feel terrible," Draper said. "You feel really, really lightheaded. You have no appetite."

Injecting fentanyl is what led to Draper’s infections.

"If I had heard my story when I was younger, I probably would have done things a lot differently," he said.

Over the last year, San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Maggie Angst and Photographer Gabrielle Lurie spent time with Austin as he went to doctors’ appointments, had his third surgery, and through it all, continued to use.

"I've covered addiction a lot, so witnessing people using doesn't really f

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