This documentary explores how addiction alienates and injures Irish families and communities and then reconnects through a journey of healing and shared understandings. In this series doctors, psychologists, counsellors, recovering addicts and family members, give compelling insights into the dark and gruesome world of addiction as well as revealing effective avenues of recovery that heal wounds and build faith and strength. These raw and sensitive revelations may be upsetting to the listeners at times but they also leave behind an abiding hope. The music that punctuates the interviews on this programme was selected for its relevance to the topics discussed and was generously contributed by Irish singer songwriter Damien Dempsey and North Dublin rappers Lethal Dialect and James Costello.

1- Facts and Fiction About Addiction 

  • Programme one : Facts and fiction about addiction.  In this programme, you will hear the clear facts and fiction about addiction from our panel of experts including a doctor, a priest, a well-known singer, a famous actor, a rapper, addiction professionals and a recovering addict: Peter Mc Verry Trust founder Father Peter Mc Verry & Coolmine Therapeutic Community Staff Member Anita Harris open a window onto the drug scene in Ireland.
  • Blanchardstown rapper James Costello & Love Hate Actor John Connors talk about addiction in North Dublin and in the travellers community  & Father Peter Mc Verry shows that it also affects people from middle class backgrounds 
  • Dartry addiction Counsellor Stephen Rowen, Coolmine Therapeutic Community Staff Member Anita Harris & former Rutland Centre Clinical Director Dr. Fiona Weldon discuss the facts and fiction about addiction including prescription tablets, methadone and the hidden dangers of cannabis.
  • Coolmine Therapeutic Staff Member Anita Harris, Father Peter Mc. Verry and Dr. Edmund O’ Flaherty explains how the chemistry of the grain can have an impact on addiction.
  • Senior Nurse Manager at Blackrock Centre for Living Brian Maguire talks about the connection between addiction and mental health & Irish singer, song writer Damien Dempsey brings in the spiritual and aspect.

 

2- From darkness to light

  • In this programme, recovering addicts highlight their journey from the depths of despair to places of faith and hope. You will hear from a renowned singer, a well-known actor, an addiction counsellor, and recovering addicts.
  • Renowned singer Frances black, addiction counsellor Declan & recovering addict James explain how addiction got hold of them.
  • Recovering addict James and Tina, talk about their addiction’s spiralling.
  • Recovering addicts Tina, addiction counsellor Declan, renowned singer Frances Black, & Love/Hate Actor Stephen Clinch share their journey into recovery.

3- Web of Healing

  • In this programme, the impact of addiction on family members is discussed as well as a comprehensive web of avenues and approaches that bring healing to the whole family.
  • Joe whose son is a heroin addict, renowned singer Frances black, and Roisin, whose son is addicted to weed, discuss the effect of addiction on family members.
  • Native American Indian Waylon White Deer shares his heart break on finding out about his daughter’s addiction.
  • Joe and Roisin explain how they both lost their son through addiction.
  • Joe and Dr. Fiona Weldon, Rutland Centre Clinical Director, shared about support groups for family members.
  • Coolmine Therapeutic Staff Member Anita Harris and former Rutland Centre Clinical Director Dr. Fiona Weldon discuss the approaches offered in Coolmine, Ashley House and the Rutland Centre to integrate the needs of the families affected by the addiction of a loved one and what is needed to break the intergenerational cycle.
  • Addiction counsellor Stephen Rowen and Coolmine Therapeutic Staff Member Anita Harris discuss the benefits of counselling and mindfulness for recovering addicts.
  • Addiction counsellor Stephen Rowen and renowned singer Frances Black stress the importance of a wholesome approach to recovery for the whole family. Sadly Joe’s son passed shortly after we recorded this programme. Our thoughts are with Joe’s family.

4- Spreading Hope in the Community

  • In this programme, we are examining North Dublin’s Ballymun as a sample community that has come a long way in the struggle against addiction and you will hear from outreach programme in South Dublin that provide a range of drug recovery methods and mental health related services. You also learn of Native American/holistic addiction recovery methods including sweat lodges, drumming, and spirituality and how such approaches are gaining popularity.
  •  Director of Ballymun Poppintree project Ray Corcoran and  Dun Laoghaire Rathdown outreach programme Team Leader Christy Rankin discuss the impact of community work to help to prevent and heal addiction. 
  • Native American Indian Waylon Gary Whitedeer opens a window into the native American approach to recovery. 
  • Joe shares about the importance of a compassionate approach to those in addiction while Darren Maguire explains how dance can bring bliss and happiness without the use of drugs. 
  • Blancharstown rapper James Costello, Director of Ballymun Poppintree project Ray Corcoran and Ballymun Community youth worker Dean Scurry share the need of the community to help recovering addicts.  

5- Moving Forward

  •  In this programme, we examine what is needed from us as individuals, families and communities to move forward through the ongoing struggle of addiction and recovery.
  • Father Peter Mc Verry, Ballymun Community Youth worker Dean scurry, Centre for Living Senior nurse manager Brian Maguire, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Outreach Programme Team Leader Christy Rankin share their thoughts on the need for our society to change their attitude towards addiction.
  • Dr. Edmund O' Flaherty and singer songwriter Damien Dempsey discuss alternative approaches to address the issue of addiction.
  • Blanchardstown rapper James Costello, Father Peter Mc Verry and addiction counsellor Stephen Rowen talk about the need for shared understandings and combined forces to address the problem of addiction in our society.
  • Father Peter Mc Verry, Native American Waylon Whitedeer, Irish singer songwriter Damien Dempsey, renowned singer Frances Black, and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Christy Rankin impart words of wisdom to bring positive changes in our society in its ongoing struggle with addiction and recovery.