Foreword

Foreword

Ballymun Recovery was born out of the idea that recovery is a possibility for everyone. Ballymun has a strong recovery community and we wanted to celebrate this and also increase the visibility of recovery in Ballymun, challenge the stigma of addiction and highlight available recovery options.

As a member of the Ballymun recovery steering group I was honoured at the invitation to write this foreword. My first professional involvement in celebrating recovery was several years ago as member of the Recovery Walk committee. That experience stimulated my interest in promoting recovery in Ballymun during the month of September. An initial meeting of Ballymun Youth Action Project service users and staff confirmed this interest in celebrating recovery not just for individuals in recovery but also for their families and the wider community. This small group saw the importance of including other services, organisations and individuals with lived experience in the planning of Recovery Month. That was the beginning of the comprehensive programme of activities that we now see during recovery month each year.

This book is a collection of personal stories written by individuals in recovery. I dare you not to get goose bumps as you read this book, it is emotional! The authors have captured their journey in the most beautifully descriptive way. It includes nuggets of wisdom that come from the experience of those telling their stories. I congratulate the author of each story as it takes courage to share a personal journey. This book would not have been possible without the editor’s dedication, support and encouragement to those people sharing their stories.

This book is a wonderful resource for people thinking about change and wondering ‘how do I go about making changes?’

• It is for people struggling and facing challenges in their recovery.

• It is for families, letting them know there is hope for their loved one and for their family to heal from addiction/substance use.

• It is for the general community as these stories challenge the myths of addiction and show that anyone can struggle with substance use.

These stories also highlight how addiction affects everyone and how Recovery impacts everyone. It illustrates that recovery is for everyone!

The international theme of Recovery Month 2021 is Recovery is for Everyone, Every Person, Every Family and Every Community. This book illustrates that theme and shows that recovery does not happen in isolation. People recover when they leave the isolation of addiction/substance use and start making connections with others; family, friends, peer recovery supports and professionals.

The stories contained in this book send out a message of hope and optimism that recovery is possible no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in and that Recovery is for Everyone.

Catrióna Nally

Project Worker, Ballymun Youth Action Project & Recovery Month Steering Group