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BANDON, like every other town in Ireland has a drugs and alcohol problem, an issue which in recent months, has made national headlines with the tragic deaths of young people in a number of centres, mainly from cocaine.
In Bandon, a non-judgemental, confidential and listening ear is available in a caring environment for any young person or family affected by or worried about this from Julie Cummins, project worker with the Bandon Community Drugs Initiative (BCDI).
Based in Room 6 of the Town Hall, North Main Street, BCDI is operated and managed by Foroige the organisation that “empowers youth and enriches communities” and is funded by the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force through the Health Service Executive. Julie, who is the drugs project worker for Bandon and district, is supported by a voluntary local steering committee representing various agencies groups working with young people.
The aim of BCDI is to enable young people residing within the Bandon area who are at risk of, or affected by alcohol and drug misuse to involve themselves in their own development, including taking positive steps to better cope with and alleviate the underlying problems in their lives.
Just over one year after taking up duty, Julie Cummins said she is very happy with the progress to date and very thankful for the support she has received for what is a totally youth-focused support service in which good communication with and respect for young people is crucial.
2007 was a very busy year as she put into action a plan which began by introducing herself to the different groups and getting to know young people attached to Bandon Youthreach (Larry Dorgan) Foroige, YMCA, T. J. Hourihane and Rebecca Armstrong), The Funky Fish Youth Café and other organisations as well as to West Cork Primary Health Care, GPs, chemists, counsellors and the Gardai. There was also a drugs poster competition in conjunction with the STEP programme run by the YMCA.
Very beneficial, said Julie, was calling to all four second-level schools in Bandon where she spoke to most of the classes and circulated a confidential questionnaire. “It revealed that many, as young as 12 or13 thought nothing of drinking alcohol. Many teenagers wrote about low self-esteem, loneliness and boredom and nearly everyone was glad to learn that there was a service they could turn to if in need.”
ONE-TO-ONE
At present, Julie is working on a one-to-one basis with 16 young people who have or had problems with drugs, alcohol and other substances and to develop an individually tailored plan towards fulfilling their potential.
Apart from alcohol, there could be experimenting with or regular taking of Ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, acid, cannabis, tranquilisers, amphetamines, magic mushrooms, amyl nitrate, tobacco, all forms of alcohol and the consumption mainly through sniffing, of solvents such as lighter fuel, glues, tippex, paint thinner, deodorants and other aerosols. (A good tip for parents, she says, is to check the medicine cabinet for out of date tablets etc and ensure these are not used for ‘smartie parties’.)
Most of the people Julie has met are referrals from concerned parents or through her contact with schools, the Probation Service and the Garda Juvenile Liaison section. Meetings are either at the room in the Town Hall or in a more informal and relaxed setting such as a café.
The goals of BCDI, which is focused on young people ‘at risk’ aged between 14 and 23, are support, intervention, positive redirection, personal development, empowerment, harm reduction but also prevention.
“My approach is very much geared towards finding out ‘why’ the young person is taking drugs or misusing alcohol and to work from there” said Julie who stressed that all sessions are free, confidential and informal.
The feedback she had been getting has indicated factors include loneliness, boredom, isolation, shyness, bullying, peer pressure, problems at home, relationship matters and also curiosity. There can of course, be many other reasons (e.g. depression) which by their nature would need referral and BCDI can offer assistance in accessing relevant services such as counselling, assessment, treatment, complementary therapies, further education and training programmes.
MIND-ALTERING
One thing that has to be realised, she went on, is that drugs, including alcohol, are mood altering and a question that needs asking is why one wishes to alter the mind. Bandon, like other towns, has a drug and alcohol issue including heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, Side effects of the latter of can be paranoia, anxiety, demotivation and exacerbation of any existing mental illness and with cocaine, acts of aggression, particularly when combined with alcohol. In brief, young people are “self medicating” as a means in some instances, to avoid dealing with their problems.
Where practicable and possible, Julie works with individuals to set goals, ‘reduce the use’ and keep a diary so that they can see for themselves the dangers and lifetime consequences of misuse and thereby empower them to develop their lives in a healthier and more meaningful way. It’s a slow process with absolutely no pressure but support is always there and ongoing
“I love working with young people. I like their honesty and humour and I find it easy to communicate with them” said Julie.
During the past year, she has brought together a group of teenagers who meet every Thursday night for some social activity, because having something to do is important. This has included seven-a-side soccer in Cork, sea angling in Courtmacsherry, going to the cinema, meals out and a Christmas dinner in a local restaurant and it has proved to be a great success in personal development, discovering hidden talents and building up self-worth. In that regard, Julie said she would very much welcome support from interested adult mentors.
Julie’s role has extended to helping young people prepare for interviews and she is also in touch with parents who themselves need support and guidance. Her work has also served to further illustrate the glaring lack of general facilities (outside of sports clubs) for youth in the Bandon area, such as a cinema, a leisure complex and multi-games area, but acknowledged the valuable role of centres such as The Funky Fish.
She is, however, actively networking with the local community, most notably through an excellent voluntary steering committee of BCDI comprising representatives of a wide cross section of bodies working on behalf of young people in the Bandon area.
JULIE CUMMINS
Born in the USA and the daughter of Michael and Breda Moran, Julie Cummins moved to Kinsale at the age of 13 and attended the former St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy School, Kinsale. She and her husband, Bernard, reside in Innishannon.
An honours graduate of English and philosophy at University College Cork, Julie travelled to Australia before completing a masters degree in philosophy. She worked for five years in a residential childcare unit in Co. Cork and also completed by night a diploma in youth and community work at UCC and a two-year higher diploma courses in counselling skills Cork Institute of Technology, headed by Gus Murray, which she said was very practical and helped her realise the career path she wished to take. She also holds a qualification in therapeutic crisis intervention.
Always interested in working with young people, the vacancy with BCDI (the first of its kind) in January, 2007, formed part of the National Drugs Strategy and Julie said her work experience, combined with her background in philosophy, were a great help towards rational and logical thinking in her daily work.
In addition to her busy work schedule, Julie is a volunteer at The Funky Fish and a supporter of Bandon Fair Trade. |
