Forty volunteer for community campaign to tackle Carrick-on-Suir’s drugs problem

Forty people have volunteered for  Carrick-on-Suir's new anti-drugs community campaign and they will meet for the first time this week. 

Two groups, one focusing on education and the other dealing with after care for people with drug abuse problems, were formed at the end of the second public meeting on tackling the town's drugs abuse and crime problem in St Nicholas Church last Thursday, October 25.

The volunteers first meeting was scheduled to take place at Bridgewater House Centre in Carrick-on-Suir last night (Thursday, November 1). 

An estimated 100 people attended the second public meeting. While the turnout was lower than the first meeting on October 11, it was nonetheless a vibrant event. 

Meeting organiser Eddie Reade spoke of the many messages of support he received following the first public meeting on October 11 and said the aim was now to focus on education, early intervention, treatment and aftercare training sessions.

He invited members of the community to sign up after the meeting for early educational training programmes run by the HSE endorsed Harmony Programme, which has been running workshops since 2009. 

 “The Harmony Programme has been designed to educate, increase self-awareness and build preventative strategies for those involved in or vulnerable to alcohol and substance misuse. Within this holistic approach the program cultivates self-efficacy, healthy lifestyle choices and preventative strategies to enhance and sustain recovery," he said. 

The provision of an aftercare centre for people with addiction problems was discussed. One woman spoke about the lack of supports for addicts who often have nowhere to go. An aftercare centre with volunteers and professionals would be welcome. Those seeking support could call in and talk to someone over a cup of tea and also get information on outreach services, medical cards and housing. 

Carrick-on-Suir councillors Kieran Bourke (FF) and David Dunne (SF) spoke of meeting Clonmel District's Garda Superintendent Willie Leahy earlier in the day. They were informed that gardai from Clonmel would be drafted into the town ‘for as long as it takes’ and the full quota of Garda personnel should be restored in the town by Christmas. 

Former Principal of Comeragh College Pat Callanan talked of how some young people caught up in drug dealing are trapped in the system. He urged parents to attend parenting courses for their children and if they have concerns to ask their GP to carry out a drug test. 

He said every school should have services and a trained counsellor. Mr Callanan also spoke of the issue of drugs not being brought up in the run up to the presidential election.  Drugs was a scourge in this country and should be raised with the President. 

Independent TD Seamus Healy TD said Carrick's drugs problem was no worse than anywhere else in the country and he urged people to work together as a community and address the issues on an ongoing basis with the Gardai and Department of Justice.  He said he was delighted Clonmel's Garda Superintendent was pushing for additional gardai in the town 

Deputy Healy spoke of the community section grants available and advised  that Section 39 Grant groups to set up community activities could be accessed. He pledged to continue to work with the community campaign to get support systems up and running. 

Eddie Reade concluded the meeting by inviting anyone who wanted to help in any way to sign up and get together as two separate groups for training sessions on early intervention, treatment and aftercare. The work for this will begin next week, he said.