Dungiven Addiction Support

29/08/2026

💜 Dungiven Addiction Support (DAS) – Our First Responders 💜

Our first responders at Dungiven Addiction Support are Carol O’Neill, Annie Mc Nicholl & Shona Mullan (Shona is missing from the picture).

If you or a loved one finds yourself needing to contact DAS for support, one of these three ladies will be the only people you will be in contact with.

Please be assured that all enquiries will be treated with the utmost respect, care and confidentiality. 🤝💜

You are not alone. Reaching out is the first step, and we are here to listen and support you without judgement.

28/08/2026

🌳 White Oaks – A Journey of Recovery

Today I want to shine a light on White Oaks Addiction Treatment Centre, situated in the Donegal countryside just outside Derry.

Founded in 2001, White Oaks provides residential treatment for people whose lives have been affected by alcohol, drugs or gambling addiction.

Their approach recognises that recovery isn’t simply about stopping an addictive behaviour — it’s about understanding addiction, beginning to heal and learning a different way to live.

Support at White Oaks includes:

🌳 Residential addiction treatment
🌳 One-to-one counselling
🌳 Group therapy
🌳 A 12-step approach to recovery
🌳 Family involvement and support
🌳 Meditation, mindfulness and therapeutic activities
🌳 Step-down and long-term aftercare support

One thing that stands out about White Oaks is the understanding that recovery doesn’t end when residential treatment finishes.

People can receive continued support through step-down sessions and an aftercare programme designed to help them maintain their recovery as they return to everyday life.

Addiction can take so much from a person — but with the right support, people can begin rebuilding their lives, relationships, self-worth and hope for the future.

Recovery is a journey, and nobody should have to make that journey alone. 🌳

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, White Oaks is another local service worth knowing about.

27/08/2026

There’s going to be a day when you’ve overcome your addiction, and your story will be someone else’s survival guide. ❤️

If you’re struggling today, please remember: you are not alone.

Dungiven Addiction Support Group are here to support you.

🤝 Reach out. Talk. Take the first step.

26/08/2026

Maybe instead of the soaps you could give this a watch this evening
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a documentary about addiction and recovery. Based on an imm...

25/08/2026

ROCK BOTTOM ISN’T THE END

Recovery doesn’t happen all at once. It happens one step, one day, one choice at a time.

There may be moments when life feels cold, quiet and empty — but sometimes that’s where we begin to find ourselves again.

You don’t have to climb the whole mountain today. Just take the next step.

From everyone at Dungiven Addiction Support Group — you are not alone. Recovery is possible, and there is always a reason to keep going. ❤️

24/08/2026

💙 ARC Fitness – Recovery Is About More Than Giving Something Up

I wanted to shine a light on ARC Fitness in Derry and the work they are doing within addiction recovery.

ARC stands for Addiction Recovery Coaching, and what really stands out about their approach is the recognition that recovery isn’t simply about stopping alcohol or drugs. It’s about rebuilding a life.

ARC brings together addiction support, physical activity, personal development and connection with others to help people move forward in recovery.

Their support includes structured recovery programmes, one-to-one addiction support and counselling, personal development and life skills, alongside opportunities to become physically active and part of a supportive community.

And I think that community aspect matters.

Addiction can leave people isolated, disconnected and feeling as though they’ve lost their sense of purpose or belonging. Recovery can be about slowly building those things again — confidence, routine, relationships, physical and emotional wellbeing, and hope for the future.

ARC Fitness was founded in Derry by Gary Rutherford, drawing in part from his own lived experience of addiction and recovery and his professional experience within mental health and addiction services.

The message behind ARC is a powerful one:

Recovery isn’t only about what you’re leaving behind.
It’s also about what you’re building in its place. 💙

For anyone in the Derry area affected by addiction, whether personally or within their family, ARC Fitness is another local source of support worth knowing about.

No shame. No judgement. Keep talking. Keep reaching out. Recovery is possible.

22/08/2026

Remembering those we’ve lost to addiction, and reaching out to those still struggling. 🕯️❤️

Support, not stigma. Hope, not judgement.

20/08/2026

🤝 AA • NA • GA – You Don’t Have to Face Addiction Alone

You may have heard people talking about AA, NA or GA meetings, but perhaps you’ve wondered what they actually are, what happens inside them, or whether they’re right for you.

🔵 AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
For people who have a desire to stop drinking and find support in recovery from alcohol addiction.

🟢 NA – Narcotics Anonymous
For people seeking recovery and a new way of life free from active drug addiction.

🟠 GA – Gamblers Anonymous
For people affected by compulsive gambling who want support in their recovery.

These meetings bring together people who understand addiction through their own experiences.

They offer something incredibly important — connection.

A place to listen.
A place to share when you’re ready.
A place to meet people who understand.
And a place to realise that you don’t have to do recovery alone.

Walking into your first meeting can feel intimidating. You might be nervous, embarrassed or simply have no idea what to expect.

That’s completely understandable.

If you’ve been thinking about attending an AA, NA or GA meeting but would like to know more first, please feel free to contact this page privately.

I can help explain what the meetings are about, what you can expect when you arrive, and help point you towards meetings in your area.

Sometimes the hardest part is simply taking that first step. ❤️

You don’t have to take it alone.

19/08/2026

19/08/2026

💜 HURT – Have Your Tomorrows

Today I want to shine a light on HURT (Have Your Tomorrows), a Derry organisation that has supported individuals and families affected by alcohol and drug problems for more than 20 years.

There is something incredibly powerful about those three words:

Have Your Tomorrows.

HURT was founded in 2002 following the devastating loss of a young man named Tony, who died from a he**in overdose at just 22 years old. From that loss came a determination to help others and challenge the stigma and judgement surrounding addiction.

Today, HURT provides a safe, confidential and non-judgemental place for people to reach out for help.

Their support includes:

💜 One-to-one counselling and therapeutic support
💜 A confidential Listening Ear service
💜 Support for families and loved ones
💜 Recovery programmes and group support
💜 Drug and alcohol education and prevention

Importantly, HURT recognises that addiction doesn’t only affect the person using alcohol or drugs. Families and loved ones can struggle too, and they deserve somewhere to turn.

And that’s what Have Your Tomorrows represents so beautifully.

Your most difficult days don’t have to determine the rest of your life.

There can be another conversation.
Another opportunity.
Another beginning.
Another tomorrow. 💜

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or drugs in the Derry area, HURT is there to offer support.

HURT – Have Your Tomorrows. 💜