Real Lives Untold

Trina sits down once more with Tony Duffin - CEO and Dawn Russell - Head of Services at the Anna Liffey Project. This interesting conversation explores the current services available at Anna Liffey, the legislative work being undertaken by the government and explains elements of recovery that can be undertaken by a drug user. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guests this week are ex-detective Inspector Pat Marry and Independant Journalist Robin Schiller have co-authored 'Murder at Lordship - Inside the hunt for a detectives killer' which details the investigation into the murder of garda detective Adrian Donoghue at Lordship credit union. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trina is joined by best selling author and producer Justin Brown, who hails from Aukland, New Zealand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Duffin, the CEO of the Ana Liffey Drug Project, said that stigma against drug users is “very serious”
and that there needs to be a health-led approach to responding to drug use, rather than a criminal approach.

In this episode Tony talks to us about his upbringing in London, his Irish roots in Wexford, his family life and his work over the last 30+ years in harm reduction.

Duffin said that Ireland needs to change its laws around drugs to help address this stigma.
“Stigma is a huge issue. It does prevent people from coming forward to access treatment and rehabilitation
and other supports.
Duffin said that “In countries like Portugal, where they implemented the model of decriminalisation, which is essentially a
very good diversion scheme, they have seen stigma towards people who use drugs disappear. It took about 10 years, 15 years of treating it as a health issue before people realise and
start to say, ‘they’re not criminals, they’re people who need a bit of help’.”

Duffin added that he believes there is an important distinction between “drug use” and “problematic drug
use”,

To follow Tony's work and the work of Anna Liffey Drugs Project click below links
https://www.facebook.com/share/pSzw67HovzfHTVKv/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://www.instagram.com/analiffey?igsh=cjk5dXh2ZHlkeDlk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Episode Trina speaks with Dawn Russell of the Anna Liffey Drugs Project about her work as Head of Services.
Dawn says she’s motivated because she “cares deeply about people who are
marginalised, who are judged and left out of our society”, and she is “driven to
work for them to improve their lives.”
“...I have watched with pride as Ireland proved to the world
and to ourselves that we are a compassionate, inclusive and caring society
through the marriage equality and abortion rights referenda. Now in Ireland, it’s
time for people who are battling with addictions to be understood and to be
brought into our society, from the shadows and alleyways where they are forced
to live. People with drug and alcohol addictions have value, they have rights, and
we have to work for them to be recognised. This is what motivates me every day,”
says Russell.

To follow the Dawns work and the Anna Liffey Drugs Project go to
https://www.facebook.com/share/pSzw67HovzfHTVKv/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://www.instagram.com/analiffey?igsh=cjk5dXh2ZHlkeDlk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.