Costs are rising and so are addictions: What does the future hold for Cuan Mhuire?

Mick Clifford takes a look at the unique services of Cuan Mhuire, that assist people suffering from addiction. The growing pressure to finance their efforts and how their work saves the State expensive treatments services and facilities.

The courtyard at Cuan Mhuire in Bruree.  On the average night there are nearly 500 people sleeping in a Cuan Mhuire facility of one sort or another.   Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Brendan was a handy footballer. He did well for his club, featured at intercounty level for a while. A bad injury brought his playing career to a shuddering halt. He needed something to fill the gaping hole where used to be his focus, his identity, since he was a small child.

“I’d been good at it and successful,” he says. “I had a grand childhood, normal, supportive parents. Then I picked up the injury when I was 17. Football was taken from me. I used to get my enjoyment there. I had low self esteem but football took care of that for me. So I turned to the social scene to get my kicks and it didn’t stay social for too long.” Alcohol, and then drugs, did the job for a while, then he started getting into trouble with the law. “I moved Australia when I was 19 but I brought my addiction and my head with me,” he says. “I got into more trouble over there and ended up deported back home. Back here it was more of the same.” In the end he faced up to his issues through the direction of a judge. “The judge let me out on bail to do a treatment so I ended up here.”