On Sunday 1 February, the Family Support Network held its tenth annual Service of Commemoration and Hope, entitled 'A decade of Hidden Grief, a Future of Hope?', 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 service in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Sean McDermott Street, was preceded by a procession from the spire on O'Connell Street led by the Garda brass band.  The service was attended by Mr John Curran TD, Minister of State with responsibility for drugs strategy, a representative of the Taoiseach, Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Eibhlin Byrne, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and other religious representatives, as well family members, friends and representatives from family support groups throughout the island of Ireland and many people working in this area.

Sadie Grace of the Family Support Network highlighted the importance of this annual service in allowing families to grieve openly while also celebrating the lives of the children they lost to drug use. She spoke of the achievements of the Family Support Network, including the involvement of the Network in establishing the National Drug-Related Deaths Index.  She also voiced her fear of an increase in drug use in the current climate of recession.

 

 Ruaidhri McAuliffe addressed the audience on behalf of the drug-users' forum, Uisce (Union for Improved Services Communication and Education).  He acknowledged the role that families play in both the treatment of and recovery from drug addiction.

 

 Minister Curran, Archbishop Martin and Fr Edmond Grace also addressed the gathering. Prayers and poems were read, accompanied by music provided by the Dublin West Community Church Music Group and singer Frances Black.

The Family Support Network 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.  

 

 Contact the Family Support Network at 175 North Strand Road, Dublin 1. Tel: 01 836 5168 or email: sadietgrace@gmail.com