Home > FSN annual Service of Commemoration and Hope.

Lyons, Suzi (2010) FSN annual Service of Commemoration and Hope. Drugnet Ireland, Issue 33, Spring 2010, p. 12.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Drugnet Ireland, issue 33) - Published Version
1MB

The Family Support Network (FSN) held its 11th annual Service of Commemoration and Hope on 1 February in remembrance of loved ones lost to drugs and related causes and to publicly support families living with the devastation that drug use causes. The theme of the service this year was 'Families: The catalyst for change'.  

The service was held in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Sean McDermott Street. The congregation was welcomed by Fr. Thomas Grzegorzewski. The large attendance included Mr John Curran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emer Costello, the Taoiseach’s aide-de-camp Commandant Michael Treacy, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and other religious representatives, and family members, friends and representatives from family support groups, and people working in this area.
 
 Sadie Grace of FSN spoke about the importance of acting on the information now available on drug-related deaths and the urgent need to put measures in place to tackle this issue. She highlighted the importance of the family in preventing children becoming addicted, and stressed the family's need for support and resources in this role. She urged that all children should be 'cherished equally'. 
 
Ruaidhri McAuliffe addressed the audience on behalf of the drug-users’ forum, Uisce (Union for Improved Services, Communication and Education). Minister Curran, Archbishop Martin and Fr Edmond Grace also addressed the gathering.
 
Dublin West Community Church Music Group provided the music, Mick O’Brien sang his own composition 'Oh Lord Our Youth Are Dying', and John Carmody read a poem that he had written. An audio piece entitled 'Loss', featuring parents who had lost children due to drug use and the effect this had on their lives, was played during the service.
 
The FSN was announced as an independent organisation in November 2007. Formed in 2000 under the auspices of the CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, the Network consists of representatives of family support groups, individual family members and those working directly with families of drug users. It aims to raise awareness of family support work and its role in the community; highlight the importance and value of work done by family support groups; provide information to families and communities on existing services and supports; highlight the extent of the drugs problem and its effects on families; campaign for better services for drug users and their families; support the involvement of the people most affected – drug users and their families – in dealing with the problem; and remember and commemorate those who have died as a result of drugs.  There are now over 80 member groups throughout Ireland.
 
The Family Support Network can be contacted at 01 836 5168, email info@fsn.ie or at www.fsn.ie
Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, Open Access, Article
Drug Type
All substances
Issue Title
Issue 33, Spring 2010
Date
19 April 2010
Page Range
p. 12
Publisher
Health Research Board
Volume
Issue 33, Spring 2010
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Available)

Repository Staff Only: item control page