The Why and The How of this journey

Each day presents an opportunity,


Let's take it.








"We will only begin to address this problem when we express a revulsion similar to that expressed in terms of incidents of sexual abuse in respect of incidents of family alcohol abuse." G Hickey 2005

This is a review of the journey to date. An exercise in recapitulation if you like. It began around 1998 with requests for meetings with relevant government ministers and their opposition spokespersons. It travels through published articles, published letters Dail questions, an oral presentation to the Dail Select sub-committee for Health and Children in 2005, many appearances on Radio and TV, and leaving the board of an NGO in 2008. All this is heading towards some new and exciting developments around the end of 2008 / 2009.

There are many reasons why I began this journey. Watching people obsess about alcohol, the damage it was doing to loved ones and the hopelessness of many over the effects of the drug in themselves or others was painful to watch and experience. Equally as difficult was watching the hundreds of Clients passing through my clinic who carrier with them debilitating scars rooted in a loved ones drinking. Many had suffered long-term anxiety and/or reactive depression directly associated to a loved ones problem drinking. Such is the scale of the problem that the average problem drinker directly affects 8 to 12 people by their problem.

I believe there is a lot that can be done with little expense and simple change of attitude and guided, effective use of limited funding. There certainly has been enough wastage of time and funding.

I begin this Blog with my presentation to the Dail Sub-Committee in 2005. It encompasses the essence of the issue. It is an ideal backdrop to future developments and hopefully constructive actions by those empowered to take them.

(There are many documents yet to be added to this Blog. Letters and articles from the late 90's and early 00's will soon be scanned and added.)