Addiction Awareness Day 2019

An excellent poster campaign on the corridors, and the electronic screens proclaimed Addiction Awareness Day last Thursday, 8th March.

The second and third years, attended two 20 minutes talks. Cuan Mhuire provided two speakers for the first session, one a former alcoholic, the other a former heroin addict. They shared how they battled successfully against their addictions in very personal stories.

In the second session, Psychotherapist Richard Hogan, who works with teenagers who have issues around gaming, spoke of the psychological impact of screen time and videogames as well as the way modern social media has serious consequences for our wellbeing.

In Transition Year, All-Ireland Gaelic football winner. Oisin McConville spoke to the students about his gambling addiction and the impact that it had on his life. His talk was a very personal one. He focused on the idea that sometimes addiction can be hard to see and that an addict can often find it very difficult to ask for help.

In Fifth Year, former heroin addict, Brian Pennie, spoke of his anxiety and how it led to his use of heroin. He told the boys of how he had turned his life around after a near death experience, which was a consequence of his drug abuse. He focused also on his current attitude to living and how he has changed the way he viewed himself and his life.

The speakers were excellent and I thank, Ms Drew, Ms Crimmins, Ms McGuire, the Student Wellbeing Committee and Deans’ for putting together such a worthwhile programme.