Addiction Awareness Day 2020

Dr Jim Lucey, Dr Stuart Wilson, Oisin McConville and Dr John Sheehan were our guest speakers on Addiction Awareness Day, Thursday 5th March.

2nd Year was addressed by Dr Lucey and Dr Sheehan on the nature of addiction and the effects that an addiction to screen time could have on the brain.

Dr Lucey and Dr Stuart Wilson spoke to 3rd Year. Dr Lucey talked about the physical changes that can take place in the body when addiction takes over. He highlighted the tangible reality of addiction through use of visual images such as brain scans etc. This made the reality of addiction physical to the students. Dr Wilson built on this concept making reference to the hormonal imbalance that occurs in the brain when we spend too much time using high power LED screens. He gave the students easy to follow advice that anyone can implement into their lives. Walk, talk, draw. These were alternative options for the hours before sleep, when a number in society occupy themselves with a digital device.
Oisin McConville, the former Armagh footballer and an All-Ireland winner, told the TY students about his own personal experiences with gambling addiction. This was an appropriate topic with the Cheltenham festival on the horizon.

Dr Wilson engaged the 5th Year boys with personal stories and experiences which created a space for addressing screen addiction and also issues around pornography.

The talks were complemented by a poster campaign, Thursday Tunes and a lunchtime debate.

We thank Dr Lucey and the Parents Committee, our Student Wellbeing Committee, our Deans, Speakers and Ms McGuire for their organisation of a very important day.