Recovery month in Ballymun

BALLYMUN is painting the town purple this September to mark and celebrate recovery from addiction in their community.

Ballymun is joining other communities across Ireland and internationally in hosting activities and events highlighting that recovery from addiction works, is possible and should be further promoted and resourced.

The month will highlight Ireland’s National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025’, which emphasizes a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland, based on providing person-centred services that promote rehabilitation and recovery.

Catriona Nally, Project Worker with Ballymun Youth Action Project (BYAP), recalled how the month’s events have grown and developed momentum.

“It has grown from workers in BYAP talking about marking the month, to a community wide initiative involving those in recovery, drug/alcohol community, family support and youth services and local artists and performers,” she said.

“We began this journey to show the Ballymun community that recovery is possible and that it has been achieved by many, both in the past and at present.

“By making recovery evident and celebrated locally we aim to show people in addiction there is a way through addiction to recovery.”

Recovery Month in September was officially launched by Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe at Cearnóg an tSeachtar Laoch Plaza outside Axis.

Speaking ahead of the month-long schedule of events in Ballymun Recovery Academy Ireland representative, Donna Kinsella, said: “It is so important to increase awareness and promote recovery, to make addiction recovery visible for individuals, families and their communities and to challenge the stigma of addiction.”

Ballymun Recovery Month includes showcasing recovery art projects, health and fitness activities such as boxercise, mindfulness retreat, building resilience and confidence, pop up recovery cafes and alcohol free events for young people and adults.

Recovery options available locally and around Dublin will also be promoted through a services fair and open meetings.

Rachel Keogh, local artist and organizing group member, said she recognizes how much Ballymun has changed as a community and how we view addiction.

“The people of Ballymun have done a 360 in terms of how we view and treat the drug user,” she said.

“From the marches in the ‘80s & 90s using tough love as an approach to addiction to a much more humane, compassionate approach which has come through bitter experience and a deeper more personal understanding of addiction.

“Ballymun Recovery symbolises to me the pride that Ballymunners have despite the stigma attached and the never-ending unity to eliminate that stigma."

Coordinator of Ballymun Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force, Hugh Greaves, said celebrating recovery in Ballymun is more important now than ever before

“In this area which has seen so much negative publicity around drugs in recent times, it’s really important to highlight the inspiring journeys taken by so many people towards their own health and well-being,” he added.