The Spellman centre also known as the Ringsend and District Response to Drugs (RDRD) recently celebrated its 21st anniversary tackling the psychology and pathology of addiction.
The RDRD was founded in 1991 to tackle a second wave of heroin addiction, which had become an epidemic in Dublin’s inner city, going back as far as the early 1980’s.
Community activists met to try and improve the quality of life for the whole community.
Project manager of the RDRA at the Spellman centre, Teresa Weafer spoke to NewsFour about her work with the Spellman centre and about the recent 21st anniversary celebrations that took place on the 9th of June at the Clanna Gael GAA Hall.
“Since then, the RDRD has grown and developed and has become an essential part of Ringsend and Irishtown life. Each year RDRD celebrate the recovery of some of their clients by hosting an event as they graduate from our programme.”
Weafer and her staff provide a support service with means of achieving rehabilitation and full recovery for their clients, that is not provided for by the public or the private sector. Weafer commended the former community development service, The Ringsend Action Project, for actively supporting the establishment of this project.
“An important philosophy of RDRD is to network and build on relationships. It was great to see so many of the other community groups who work with RDRD help celebrate the service.”
RDRD along with the Dublin Port Company and members of the local community gave tribute to the great work being done by clients and families in their battle against addiction.
One of the highlights of the night was the attendance and the recognition of RDRD’s very first graduate, David Murphy, who stood up and thanked the staff and the people who had greatly helped him on his journey to recovery.
In the Spellman Centre there are three very active groups, including a young person’s group, a group that deals with the issues of self-harm and a drug-free programme. Teresa Rooney received a special Volunteer Of The Year award from the RDRD project in recognition of her support to service users.
Weafer continues, “The annual graduation has become an essential part of the RDRD calendar. It gives the service time to celebrate, reflect, give thanks and offer support and solidarity. The young people graduating from the service continue to inspire us all. Their battle is not easy and they have not given up.”
On this night there was a strong recognition for the role of families and loved ones, “whose step by step journey plays a very important role in the life of their loved one.”
Teresa Weafer thanked Minister Catherine Byrne, Senator Frances Black, Garda Anthony Kelly, Alice Foley (Honorary Mayor of Ringsend and Irishtown), Charlie Murphy, Eamonn O’Reilly, Pat Ward and Edel Currie of the Dublin Port Company who were all in attendance for the anniversary.
The RDRD’s Chairperson Tom Crilly thanked councillors Chris Andrews, Dermot Lacey, Sonya Stapleton and Jim O’Callaghan TD for their attendance and their ongoing support for the Spellman centre. Crilly also thanked the team of staff in the Spellman for all their dedication and hard work.
By Robert Fullarton