Alcoholics Anonymous: get in touch with us

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS SAY PEOPLE NEED TO GET IN TOUCH

THERE are fears that physical distancing measures being imposed in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19 are impacting on people who are battling to overcome alcohol addiction.

Concerns were raised after it emerged that some people in the county had reportedly ‘relapsed’ because they were unable to locate an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting in their locality, as many of the buildings that host these meetings have shut since HSE guidelines on social distancing were introduced.

The vast majority of AA meetings in Kerry are held at evening time in convents, national schools and community centres – many of which are closed since the government introduced safety measures on March 11.

But Sean Daly of Kerry AA said there are still people to talk to, and anyone struggling should get in touch.

“We are staying in touch with as many people as we can. It is a very difficult time for people and I would ask them to get in touch with me. Their call will be answered and someone will get back to them,” he said.

There are 32 AA groups in the county with in excess of 90 meetings taking place every week that are well attended.

While social and physical distancing is necessary at present to deal with the spread of COVID-19, such a scenario can be lethal for people struggling to cope with alcohol.

“Not all meetings have been cancelled, and some meetings are even being set up on-line. People can still get in touch,” Sean said. “Where meetings are taking place, they are in larger halls and in conjunction with HSE guidelines, which is the right thing to do at the present time,” he added.

Sean points out that anyone struggling at the moment ‘absolutely’ needs to contact him.

“It’s a difficult time so staying in touch is vital. Naturally we’re very concerned about people at this point in time. We will meet them and we will talk to them, but the most important thing is to get in touch.”

Alcoholics Anonymous consists of a fellowship of men and women who want to quit drinking and share their experiences.

Through this sharing of personal experience comes the strength and hope that is necessary to overcome drinking.

Through AA meetings, people find and work towards the common goal of recovering from alcoholism. Many people take great solace from attending AA meetings

It’s thought that upwards of 84 percent of people in Ireland drink alcohol, while alcohol consumed globally, per year, is said to have gone up by 70 percent between 1990 and 2019.

Over one million Irish people between the ages of 18 and 75 are considered to be harmful drinkers.

For more information on Kerry AA, contact Sean Daly on: 087 231 6053. “We are here for people and they just need to make contact,” he said.