TY Cuan Mhuire Talk

By Megan Broughill, TY. 

“Addiction is an escape but it’s also an illness, and anyone can have that illness”  

The Transition Year students in Athboy Community School had a drugs awareness talk (Cuan Mhuire) on Wednesday March 4th. 

They heard from Gráinne who told about them about the different treatment centres that Cuan Mhuire operate in towns like Athy, Bruree, Farnanes, Galway and Newry. She told the students about how these centres work, how many people they hold and how they help with addiction. 

They were then told about how addiction does not discriminate, that whether you come from a rich family or a poor family, addiction can still come to you, that nobody is immune.  

After Gráinne finished talking she introduced three further speakers. The TY’s heard real stories from each speaker, about their addiction and how they changed their lives, how hard it was, how hard relapse is and how it makes you a different person, someone who needs help. 

The TY’s were then afforded the chance to ask some questions that they had about how addiction works and the effects it has on life. They learned more than just the basic knowledge of addiction, but also how dangerous it is to the body, friendships, family and overall health and wellbeing. It was a very worthwhile, informative talk as the students learned so much from people that have faced these problems themselves.