THE Inishowen board of
the GAA will be hosting an Alcohol & Substance Abuse
Prevention (ASAP) awareness evening in the clubrooms
of Naomh Padraig Muff this evening, May 17, starting
at 8.30pm.
It is hoped that a minimum of two people from each
club, one male and one female, will attend but the
event is also open to club officers, senior club
members, coaches, parents and all members of the
community who are interested in the programme.
Buncrana’s Sean Clerkin, who is the Inishowen
co-ordinator for the programme initiated by the GAA,
will be guest speaker for the night and he will try
to get the message across to those present that the
aim of the ASAP programme is to reduce the harm
caused by alcohol and other drugs.
The ASAP programme is a joint venture by the GAA and
the Health Service Executive and is primarily about
the prevention of alcohol and other drug problems
taking hold in our clubs. Alcohol and other drug
problems have become more common in Ireland in
recent years than many people would have thought
possible just a short time ago. Most communities,
whether urban or rural, now find themselves having
to deal with problems caused by the increased use of
alcohol and other drugs and these problems often
have knock-on effects for GAA clubs and how we can
go about helping to reduce the problems associated
with them. Rather than ignore this change in Irish
society and say it has nothing to do with us, the
GAA has put in place a comprehensive response to
help keep its members safe from the negative effects
of alcohol and other drugs.
Some clubs in Donegal have already appointed ASAP
officers and it is hoped in the very near future
that all clubs in Inishowen will have one person in
place who will see the programme through. ASAP
officers will be responsible for promoting and
implementing club drug and alcohol policies and
organising prevention/education initiatives in
conjunction with professional drug and alcohol
agencies.
Everyone is welcome to the meeting and clubs are
encouraged to have as many people as possible from
their area present for what is sure to be a very
informative evening.
For further information on the GAA Alcohol &
Substance Abuse Prevention please visit
www.gaa.ie/asap
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