'There's no shame in addiction, it is an illness'

Fiona Boyd says life after rehab at Cuan Mhuire is now good

A woman has said her life was in a "downward spiral" before going to a County Down residential rehab centre for help.

Fiona Boyd received treatment for alcohol addiction at Cuan Mhuire in Newry.

Cuan Mhuire opened 40 years ago this week and has supported about 25,000 people through its total abstinence programme.

Ms Boyd took part in a 12-week residential programme in 2023.

'The last thing addiction wants is your life'

"When I made the decision to come to Cuan Mhuire, my life was on a downward spiral because of an addiction to alcohol and I had no other option," she told BBC News NI.

“They talk about how you lose everything and the last thing addiction wants is your life. I knew if I didn’t do something about it that it was going to take my life as well," she added.

“I hid a lot from friends and family. My day to day was constantly thinking about my addiction and when I was going to get my next drink," she said.

“It was a very, very lonely world that I was living in. It’s not as easy as just stopping alcohol. I needed complete removal.

"A good friend of mine, who was a former resident, suggested I come here and it was the best decision I ever made," she added

Ms Boyd continued: “I was very lucky when I came that I still had my family and my partner. I still had my job. My licence. A lot of people who come don’t have that."

Ms Boyd said that entering the facility for the first time was “very scary” but the love from staff and volunteers was immediate.

“No matter where you come from, what religion, what race, they are here to look after you,” she said.

“I would say to anyone struggling with addiction that there’s no shame in it, it is an illness.”

'The beginning of my new life'

Dónal was one of the earliest residents at the old Newry centre

Fiona's story echoes one from four decades ago.

Dónal Magee was one of the earliest residents in Cuan Mhuire, in 1986.

He has been recovering from an alcohol addiction for 38 years and has volunteered at the centre in the years since being a participant.

“I was a beaten man. I didn’t realise that was the beginning of my new life," he said.

The old centre was a world away from today’s modern accommodation. He said it was “rough” but had an the ethos of love and support.

“The friendships I built up have sustained themselves right to this day," he said.

"If I ever got into any bother, it was just a matter of lifting the phone and even if I didn’t speak it was enough."

Sister Sheila says people need the right support to get away from their addictions

What is Cuan Mhuire?

Cuan Mhuire is a non-profit provider of addiction treatment and rehabilitation for men and women.

The name means Mary's Harbour and although the charity was set up by a nun, participants do not have to be Catholic - or have any religion.

Its Newry centre, set up on 29 June 1984 by Sister Consilio from County Kerry, is one of five Cuan Mhuire locations in Ireland.

Originally located on the Armagh Road in Newry, the centre has grown significantly over the decades and in 2012 relocated to a purpose-built facility on the Dublin Road.

While on the residential programme participants can avail of group therapy and individual counselling, with an aftercare programme for two years and beyond.

CEO Gerry McElroy said it was primarily funded by the Housing Executive through its Supporting People Programme.

It also receives income from the Department of Health and through private donations.

Both Mr McElroy and manager Sister Sheila stress that individuals must be willing to deal with their addictions if treatment is to be successful.

“The 12 weeks is a chance to have a look at yourself, take a look at what the triggers are but also to focus on how am I going to change to live a life independently, free from my addiction,” Mr McElroy said.

Alcohol, drug and gambling addictions

When the Newry centre first opened its doors, the majority of people seeking support had an alcohol addiction.

While that continues to be a primary issue, staff are also having to adapt to new challenges.

CEO Gerry McElroy says "the most satisfying aspect is seeing people getting well"

According to Mr McElroy, almost all service users now are dealing with more than one addiction.

“Very often the person has also a problem with drugs and maybe gambling as well," he said.

He added that he has seen a growing number of women using the centre in recent years.

Sister Sheila said: “Most people get involved in addiction through peer pressure, bad relationships, trauma and so when they get involved it’s very hard to disengage.

"They need support to do it.”

Substance abuse in NI - latest statistics

• In 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available, Northern Ireland had the joint highest rate in the UK of deaths from diseases caused by alcohol

• Between 2018 and 2022 the death rate was over three times higher in NI's most deprived areas than in the wealthiest areas

• Deaths due to drug-related causes have increased by 98% since 2012

• Between 2018 and 2022 44.4% of drug misuse deaths occurred in NI's most deprived areas

Sources: Office for National Statistics , Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) - Drug-related deaths and NISRA- Alcohol-specific deaths

The future

New long-term supportive accommodation apartments

For many the return to society is daunting, especially if they lack financial or family support and especially for the 40% of participants who were homeless at the time of admission.

The centre in Newry has just completed its latest project – new long-term supportive accommodation apartments.

“It’s very important because for a lot of people who come to us, their relationship with other family members or society may have broken down very badly and they’re only coming to the early stages of how to find themselves again,” Sister Sheila said.

“We can’t give anybody recovery; we can support them to find it.”