Service offers hope to people recovering

A MOVING hope and remembrance service was held by Jobstown Assisting Drug Dependency (JADD) last Thursday, December 15.

People who had recovered from substance addiction spoke at the event as a way of offering hope to attendees, while the service also remembered people from JADD who have passed away.

Family members of JADD clients who have passed away were also in attendance to remember their loved ones and to receive condolences from JADD clients and staff.

Explaining the aim of the event, the manager of JADD, Tommy Gilson, told The Echo: “There were two pieces to it, hope and remembrance.

“Hope is a part of it, because there were people there who successfully achieved their goals in relation to treatment, who spoke at the service and shared their journey from active substance use to being stable.

“The audience was made up of people who have substance use problems, so for these individuals to see their peers sharing their stories, it gives a lot of hope to those who are struggling or not reaching their goals.

“We also remembered people who had passed away throughout the year through substance use, or through health issues related to substance use.

“We wrote their names down, placed them on a tree and we’ll keep it up over Christmas.”

As a result of sponsorship from Brian McElroy Funeral Directors, JADD purchased Newbridge Silverware ornaments for the family members of JADD clients who had died.

The family members can put either a photo or the name of their loved one in the ornament to decorate their own Christmas tree and remember them during the festive period.

Musical performances at the event were provided by Olivia Burke and children from the St Thomas’ Senior National School choir.

“Many of the children will sadly be affected by substance use in their community,” added Mr Gilson, “so we often go into local schools and do pieces with them.

“So it’s about supporting each other, and also acknowledging the talents of the children in the choir.”

It was also a welcome return to normality for JADD, as their annual hope and remembrance service had to be cancelled for the last two years because of the pandemic.

Reflecting on the overall impact of the event, Jacinta Keenan, administrator at JADD, said: “It was an emotional day, but it was also inspiring.”