Survive and Thrive
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:18 — 128.9MB)
In the latest episode of the Survive & Thrive Podcast Series, we are given an invaluable and privileged insight into stories of mother-women in recovery.
Following the launch of a very unique piece of research in May 2025, “Mothers in Addiction Recovery Rising: The Will And the Way” https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/nursing-midwifery/pdfs/Mothers-Rising-Online-final.pdf we were invited to a subsequent special event, as part of recovery month, celebrating the voices and experiences of mothers in recovery.
The event which took place at the Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin, Russell Centre, Tallaght, saw the launch of a new publication: Seeds of Change from a Wild Garden: Letters and
Stories of Mother-Women in Recovery. https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/nursing-midwifery/pdfs/Seeds_of_Change-final-online-report.pdf
The event more than achieved its aims:
* To bring light to the challenges, struggles, and strengths of mothers in recovery
* To invite dialogue on how we might better support and celebrate their journeys.
It was a very special event and Tallaght Drugs & Alcohol Task Force, was honoured to be invited and felt humbled in the presence of such trojan women, sharing truly inspirational stories of strength, resilience,
recovery and hope.
Sincere thanks to Louise and her coauthors for allowing us to create a podcast, so that these extremely personal and invaluable stories can be shared – to educate, reduce stigma, influence drugs policy and most importantly, encourage behavioral & attitudinal change as well as genuine empathy and understanding
Speakers at the event included: Our six Mother Women authors and Curator: Louise McCulloch; GP: Dr. Garret McGovern; Sarah Cummins – Manager, Barnardos Lorien Project and Anita Harris – Deputy Head of Services, Coolmine.
About this series – Tallaght Local Drugs & Alcohol Task Force (TDATF) presents “Survive & Thrive”, a podcast which aims to empower and give voice to individuals, families and communities impacted by substance misuse. Through this podcast we also want to promote these addiction support services, reduce stigma associated with substance misuse and hopefully encourage anyone isolated to take that first step in asking for help. Yes, there are many stories of poverty, suffering and trauma in our communities, as a result of drugs & alcohol misuse; but there are also stories of great resilience, hope and support. Lived experience is extremely valuable in shaping the work we do as a Task Force and that of our amazing frontline community drug services.
Tallaght Local Drugs & Alcohol Task Force was set up in 1997 to facilitate a more effective response to substance misuse, in the communities of Tallaght and Whitechurch. For more visit https://tallaghtdatf.ie/
