Kildare man addresses Citizens' Assembly

Naas man Aubrey McCarthy addressed  the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use at Malahide Castle.

Mr McCarthy spoke on  “maintaining recovery and resilience” and how the Tiglin model could be adopted nationwide. 

The event chaired by Paul Reid with speakers Professor Eamonn Keenan, Professor Jo-Hanna Ivers and Professor Pat Dolan. It was televised and the Assembly will finalise its report and submit its recommendations to the Oireachtas by the end of this year.

This  meeting heard from a wide range of contributors speaking about drugs prevention and education. Some discussions focussed on resilience and well-being, with presentations from academics and organisations working directly with people who use drugs, peer-led recovery, families, and young people.

The meeting also included a discussion on funding and governance for national drugs policies with contributions from current and retired senior civil servants.

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Speaking at the close of the meeting, independent chair, Paul Reid, said Assembly members had now heard a collective 180 hours of discussion about all aspects of drugs use in Ireland. He said this represented the most comprehensive assessment and consideration of drugs policy in Ireland

Mr McCarthy founded Tiglin, a centre providing long term residential rehabilitation for men and women:

Nine months of the programme are completed in the residential rehabs and the final 7 months are completed in after care/housing.

Once the programme is complete (total 16 months) transitional housing is offered. Tiglin is also an approved housing body and currently has 38 units for those exiting its programmes and provides services for an additional 12 in Naas Co. Kildare.