Pic: Limerick Leader
A day in the life; living in a Treatment Centre
Tuesday 3rd December 2023, 14:19 pm
By Darren Donoghue
There has been a sharp rise in people presenting to the Rutland Centre with multiple addictions, according to the treatment service’s latest annual report.
It says 62 per cent of people presented with multiple addictions last year, up from 48 per cent in 2022.
The report said 20 per cent of people were struggling with three or more substances or behaviours.
On a personaI level am in recovery. I have been quite open about my disease and my battle with addiction.
Alcohol was my drug of choice, my first love and once I drank the first drop of alcohol it set off a physical and mental obsession for alcohol.
From 2016 to 2020 I was in and out of treatment centres to try get help and combat my addiction.
When it comes to treatment centres, a lot of people are unaware of what your day consists of on daily basis for those living in a treatment centre.
Cuan Mhuire was the treatment Centre I went to all those times, when I needed help.
Cuan Mhuire is Ireland’s largest voluntary provider of Addiction Treatment Services and Residential Rehabilitation. It’s main objective is the rehabilitation of persons suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions.
Nine out of ten times I ended up in Cuan Mhuire Bruree, a small village in Co. Limerick on the Cork border. Cuan Mhuire also has treatment centres in Athy Co. Kildare, Coolarne Co. Galway and in Newry Co. Down.
For anyone who has never been in a treatment centre, I’m just going to describe an average day inside a treatment centre in Cuan Mhuire.
Regardless of your condition when you arrive in Cuan Mhuire, its mandatory that you must do two weeks in the detox unit and for the first week the mandatory clothing is pyjamas. You also have the bonus of being confined to the detox unit while you are still in pyjamas.
The detox unit does exactly what it says on tin. Detox is the first step on the road to recovery, and essentially means eliminating harmful toxins from the body which have been created from addiction to perilous substances.
It’s a place where you detox under 24 hr supervision from nurses and those voluntary working on the unit.
While you are in the unit, you will be given medication to help with withdrawals such as shaking, nausea and seizures.
I was normally given Librium, sedative and hypnotic medication of the benzodiazepine class; it is used to treat anxiety, insomnia and symptoms of withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other drugs.
In 2019, I arrived at Cuan Mhuire in a terrible way. I was given Xanex, in my opinion a stronger medication than Librium. I don’t remember much of that first week in the detox unit!
Normally, after a week in detox you get your clothes back, which means freedom!!!!!
Well, freedom to a certain extent. You can roam outside the detox unit and explore the grounds. While in detox you will be given chores to do, whilst you have to attend group therapy meetings and AA Meetings.
After your two weeks you are moved into the main part of the treatment centre. If you are recovering from Alcohol or gambling your stay in Cuan Mhuire will be 3 months, while the drugs programme is 6 months and a lot stricter.
The first thing I remember when entering the main part of the house was a sign saying, “Cuan Mhuire is a place where you change yourself and no one else”. How powerful is that saying?
Your day starts off with a bell being rang at 6:40 am to wake all residents. This bell would waken the dead it was that loud and it was one of those bells that was used in schoolyards across the country. Breakfast consisted of cereal, porridge, bread and tea.
Meditation starts at 7.30am after the roll call to check everyone is in attendance. Every Monday morning there is a works meeting, where you will be given a job (occupational therapy) for one week. You could be working outside or working inside the building cleaning or helping in the kitchen/dining area prepping food.
So, your day will basically consist of occupational therapy, breaks, group therapy and meetings. You get 3 square meals a day and there is a coffee bar to get tea/coffee/snacks. After dinner Monday to Friday, you will have group therapy work, then the Rosary. Depending on the night AA/NA/GA meetings are held at 8.30pm.
Bear in mind that that Cuan Mhuire is a Catholic Religious establishment, but it accepts all religious denomination and Atheists. The rosary is daily occurrence at 8pm and there is mass every couple of days. It is compulsory to attend mass and the rosary, but you don’t have to take part if you don’t want to. The same being said for the AA meetings as well.
It must be noted that Cuan Mhuire is segregated. Men and woman are kept apart in different areas of the centre, and you rarely see the opposite sex. Even if you do encounter them, you’re not supposed to talk to them.
Before leaving it is suggested as a part of your road to recovery to get a least 3 meetings a week plus your aftercare.
Treatment centres start you off on your road to recovery. Cuan Mhuire gave me the routine and the discipline I lacked while in active addiction. Cuan Mhuire gave me a new sense of self worth and self-respect again. Cuan Mhuire gave me a reason to live gain.
But the best thing about Cuan Mhuire gave me a new life and new sense of freedom. I am no longer a slave to my addiction, one day at a time.
For anyone is looking for help or looking to get into treatment, we have attached the link below to Cuan Mhuire:
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