Drug abusers huff glue and inhalants while dealers ply their trade on the streets of Tepito, Mexico City's toughest neighborhood. Drug cartels now control Tepito.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Worshipers pray at the famous Santa Muerte altar in Tepito. The worship of Saint Death has become increasingly popular in poorer neighborhoods of Mexico, especially among gang members and those on the margins of society. Often, the families of victims can be seen praying next to relatives of gang members, or gang members themselves.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Mexicans took to the streets in more than 60 cities to protest the deteriorating security situation on Aug. 30, 2008. Thousands carry candles to the zocalo in Mexico City.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Gang members and dealers line the streets of Tepito. Each tear coming from a gang member's tattoo represents a murder committed.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Gang members and dealers line the streets of Tepito. Drug cartels strictly guard access to the neighborhood and police are only allowed to patrol its streets two days a week.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Ex-convict "Gerardo" holds his son on the streets of Tepito. Gerardo gave up his life of crime to raise his family and has devoted his life to the worship of Santa Muerte, or Saint Death. Gang members on the streets of Tepito give him a wide berth out of respect.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Blood and gasoline glisten on the streets of Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico City. Neza, a barrio on the outskirts of Mexico City, has become notorious for its gang violence.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Patients stream toward medics on the streets at night in an all too common scene of violence on the streets of Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico City.
- [Brian L Frank/]

A paramedic in Nezahualcoyotl rushes a patient to the emergency room. Assassins often follow the medics down the corridor to finish off their victims.
- [Brian L Frank/]

After crawling miles on bloodied knees, worshipers reach the famous Santa Muerte altar in Tepito and break down in tears.
- [Brian L Frank/]

Clandestine graves are an all too common site in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Monuments such as this one can be found in well known areas where bodies from drug violence are regularly dumped. Eleven bodies were found piled one atop the other in this particular empty lot.
- [Brian L Frank/]