ADDICTION AWARENESS WEEK 23RD – 27TH FEBRUARY 2015

Addiction is defined as being out of control in our decision-making as a consequence of one or a combination of physical, mental, circumstantial and emotional factors.

Our awareness campaign highlighted both the harm caused by a dependency on Alcohol/Drugs/Gambling/Supplements/the Internet and the warning signs such as risk-taking/secrecy/obsession/denial/changes in friendships, in hobbies and activities/lapses in concentration, poor application to studies/financial pressures.

Key Facts:
53% of people in Rehab have an addiction to cannabis
€145m per annum is spent on alcohol by 16-17 year olds in Ireland
Alcohol and Cannabis consumption damages your impulse control, your motivation, your reasoning ability and causes memory loss
Gambling has infiltrated social media; 3.4% of teenagers have a problem with gambling.

Key Messages:
Have the confidence and the personality to say NO
Involvement in Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling at this age takes away your ability to Be Truthful.
Be inspired to Be Different, Make the Right Choices

We thank our Speakers – Mr Shane Murphy, Mr Enda Kelly, Mr John O’Doherty, Ms Anne Collins, Mr Colin O’Gara, Mr David Brophy,
Mr Bobby Smyth, Mr Mark Smyth, Mr Stephen Rowan, Mr Dean O’Donnell, Mr Oisin McConville and Ms Liz Lawlor – our Parents’ Committee chaired by Mr Eamonn Kenny and Mr McMahon for their delivery of an excellent programme.

I thank Ms Nolan, Mr Herlihy, the Deans and the Teachers involved, House Captains and our Household Team who managed the logistics.