‘You're not on your own’: Addiction recovery event in Donegal to provide free bus from Leitrim 

This month, to celebrate Recovery Month, an event will be held in Donegal where people affected by addiction can come and learn about support and services available in the area.

A free bus will run from Leitrim to the event, which will take place at Oldfield Park in Raphoe, Co. Donegal, on the 16th of September, and is run by the Northwest Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (NWDATF).

“What we're looking at doing is connection, to show people that you're not on your own trying to fight this,” said Donna McGee of NWDATF.

The informal event will have music, food, and will host Dr. Brian Penny, neuroscientist and author who featured on RTÉ’s documentary series on addiction Hooked. Dr. Penny will be speaking about his own struggle with addiction and the science of addiction.

The event will focus on recovery and is open to anyone who is struggling with addiction or who is affected by addiction in their family, and will host people who have come through recovery who will speak about their own journey.

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The event is open to those who are looking for the first step to deal with addiction and to find out what services are available in the region. Parents are asked not to bring their children, due to the nature of the discussion that will take place, and those who attend are asked to be sober at the event.

“It's just a celebration of hope, really, and to show people that you're never doomed, that there's always a way back for people, and that sometimes addiction can be three steps forward and four steps back. We understand that, and we want to support people and families where they're at.”

“There are services out there to help you. And sometimes if you're half considering something and then you come and you meet somebody and it takes the fear out of it.”

Anyone interested in attending the event and using the free bus service from Leitrim should contact the task force by the end of the week in order to secure a place. They can be reached at 087 0007727 and maev.gallagher@hse.ie.

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“We have staff that are really well trained and really responsive, and we want to be able to help.”

The publicly funded organisation offers services to help those suffering with drug and alcohol addiction, and those who are affected by addiction in the family, both adults and children. “Everybody that lives in a household is impacted by what goes on within the walls of that household.“

Alcohol use as a result of loneliness and isolation is something the task force has seen an uptick in since Covid, so there are services available to help.

“We have supports such as recovery through exercise programmes and local supports within communities just to help people get involved and connected and reduce their isolation and loneliness.”