Western Regional Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week 2015

Putting the harms and risks associated with drugs and alcohol under the spotlight is the aim of the fourth Regional Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week which starts on November 9. Organised by the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force, the week will focus on the themes of early intervention, women and substance use, rural isolation and family support in a number of information events and seminars rolled out across Galway Mayo and Roscommon.

‘Intervening Early with Drug and Alcohol Problems’ the opening seminar of the week will take place in the Clayton Hotel Monday, November 9th at 11am. This seminar will seek to address the impact of alcohol on health; the developing brain, as well as highlighting early intervention options.

Mayo will host ‘Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix’ on Tuesday 10th November. This training event is for clinical professionals in Mayo General Hospital.

Westport Town Hall will be the venue for ‘Success in Sport: What does it take?’ This event will take place on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm.

Wednesday evening will also see the launch of a new Galway family support group for family members affected by substance use with a public information session in the Menlo Park Hotel from 7−8pm.

‘Rural Isolation, Drugs and Alcohol: Reaching out to the Community’ will take place on Thursday 12th at 12.30pm in Vita House, Roscommon. The closing event of the week will be the Grand Final of the Roscommon Schools’ Public Speaking event on Alcohol and Society which will take place in the Abbey Hotel, Roscommon town. Nine schools from across county Roscommon will compete in this final.

Martin Lee, Chairperson of the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force says “the awareness week is a great opportunity for the Task Force to highlight specific drug and alcohol issues especially pertinent to the Western Region”.

Event updates are available on the Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force website www.wrdtf.ie For further queries contact the Task Force offices on 091 480044 or info@wrdtf.ie