REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CLONDALKIN ADDICTION SUPPORT PROGRAMME OPEN DAY
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CLONDALKIN ADDICTION SUPPORT PROGRAMME OPEN DAY NEILSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócáid speisialta seo. Tá mé buíoch díbh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
Friday the 13th isn’t generally regarded as the luckiest day in the world. But despite all the bad omens associated with that date, it comes as no surprise to me that this Open Day is such a wonderful success. Maybe even in chosing this day you were saying something about the strength and the faith you have in yourselves and in each other to help overcome the fates, the odds, the heartbreaking scourge of addiction.
Many people have worked hard to prepare for today and I’m delighted, more than that privileged, to share it with you. I know many people will join me wholeheartedly when I congratulate you on the many achievements to date of the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme.
When this Programme was set up a few years back, it was in response to a terrifying and seemingly unstoppable increase in the number of young people ensnared by drug addiction. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, destroying futures, destroying hope. And no family is immune, no matter how well we think we’ve educated our children about the danger of drugs, none of us can ever be certain that our family will escape. Of course, the damage caused by drug addiction isn’t limited to devastating a single life, or a single family. It extends out into every facet of the community, creating fear and mistrust. It eats away at the capacity of an entire generation to shape a better life for themselves. Worse, the poison can so easily continue to the next generation, in a seemingly endless cycle of misery.It took a lot of courage for the first volunteers who came together to form the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme to believe they could break that cycle. It took a lot of hard work and self-belief. But they had the support of some really determined individuals and a strong community spirit. And they had the insight to understand that since drug addiction affects not only the addict, but also his or her parents, partner, children, siblings, neighbours and friends – so too must the support and help include all those different groups.
Instead of generating a destructive web of hurt, the person recovering from addiction becomes surrounded by a positive network of support and encouragement. From family support groups to counselling, outreach projects, drop in facilities, an education and prevention programme and aftercare services, the Programme provides a genuinely holistic approach to preventing and treating every aspect of the drugs problem.
This exhibition gives us an insight into many aspects of addiction through the wonderful range of short stories, poems, photography, drama, woodwork and metalwork on display. It also illustrates just how much creativity there is in this community, and how much poorer our society will be if we allow those talents to be wasted.
I would like to warmly congratulate all those who have been involved both in preparing for this Open Day, and especially in the day-to-day work of the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme. A particular word of thanks is due to the Manager, Muriel Boothman, all the members of the management committee, and the Eastern Health Board, Clondalkin Task Force and other sponsors of the Programme. Most of all, though, I would like to thank the local community who have given so generously of their time and energy to make this Programme a success, because they know it matters, they know it works and they know that each life pulled back from the brink, makes all that work worthwhile. This is where people show that we do care and care deeply about each other and about our community.
Thank you once again for inviting me, for your welcome and kindness, for all you have done to make this day so special and for all you have committed yourselves to doing to make sure drugs do not take away lives and hopes without a monumental battle. I wish all of you every success in the future.