FASN - Family Addiction Support Network

01/09/2026

https://www.northernsound.ie/news/fasn-launches-new-weekly-family-peer-support-group-in-monaghan-289834

The new group will begin on Tuesday, 8 September from 11.00am to 12.30pm, at FASN's premises on Park Street, Monaghan Town and will continue weekly

01/09/2026

A Reminder For Us All

01/09/2026

31/08/2026

🛡️ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆

31/08/2026

☕ As part of Recovery Month, we are delighted to invite you to our Pop-Up Recovery Café — a warm and welcoming space to come together, connect, have a cuppa, hear real stories of recovery and discover the support available in our community.

🎤 Lived Experience Panel Discussion
💬 Real stories. Real hope. Real recovery.
☕ Tea, coffee & refreshments
🤝 Connection with support services
💜 Conversations around recovery
🌱 A message of hope

📍 Foresters Hall, Dundalk, A91 YH90
📅 Friday, 4th September
⏰ 10:30am–12:30pm

Everyone is welcome. Whether you are in recovery, supporting a loved one, working alongside people affected by addiction, or simply want to learn more and connect with others — come along.

💜 Recovery is real. Recovery is happening. Recovery is for everyone. 💚

💜 September is Recovery Month 💜

September is a time to recognise and celebrate the courage, strength and resilience of people on their recovery journey, while also acknowledging the families, friends and communities who walk alongside them. 🌱

Recovery is not always an easy or straightforward journey, but it is possible — and no one should have to walk it alone. This month is an opportunity to challenge stigma, create understanding, share stories of hope and remind people that support is available. 🤝💚

☕ As part of Recovery Month, we are delighted to invite you to our Pop-Up Recovery Café — a warm and welcoming space to come together, connect, have a cuppa, hear real stories of recovery and discover the support available in our community.

🎤 Lived Experience Panel Discussion
💬 Real stories. Real hope. Real recovery.
☕ Tea, coffee & refreshments
🤝 Connection with support services
💜 Conversations around recovery
🌱 A message of hope

📍 Foresters Hall, Dundalk, A91 YH90
📅 Friday, 4th September
⏰ 10:30am–12:30pm

Everyone is welcome. Whether you are in recovery, supporting a loved one, working alongside people affected by addiction, or simply want to learn more and connect with others — come along.

💜 Recovery is real. Recovery is happening. Recovery is for everyone. 💚

31/08/2026

📢💜 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗗𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗢. 💜

Living alongside someone’s addiction or substance misuse can bring worry, fear, uncertainty, frustration and exhaustion into everyday family life. You may find yourself constantly thinking about the person you love, wondering what will happen next, trying to help, trying to keep things together — and gradually putting your own wellbeing to one side. 💭💔

Sometimes, one of the most helpful things is simply being able to sit with people who understand without needing everything explained. 🤝

💜 𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡

📅 Starting: Tuesday, 8th September 2026
🕚 Time: 11.00am – 12.30pm
📍 Location: Park Street, Monaghan Town, Co. Monaghan, H18 CK15
🔄 Continuing weekly

The group is open to family members and friends affected by a loved one’s addiction or substance misuse.

You don’t have to have all the answers. You don't have to be at crisis point. And the person you are concerned about does not have to be in treatment or recovery for you to seek support for yourself.

🤝 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥?

💬 A safe and confidential place to talk — or simply listen
🤝 Connection with other family members who understand
💜 Support without judgement
🌱 Help to develop healthier ways of coping
🧭 Support in recognising what you can and cannot control
💚 Encouragement to look after your own wellbeing
✨ Hope from hearing how other families have learned to cope differently

One of the most important things family members can discover is that seeking support for yourself does not mean giving up on the person you love.

You can continue to love and care about someone while also recognising the impact their addiction is having on you.

💜 Your wellbeing matters too.

🌙 𝗖𝗔𝗡'𝗧 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬?

FASN Family Peer Support Groups are also available on weekday evenings:

📅 Monday – Cavan
📅 Tuesday – Castleblayney / Drogheda
📅 Wednesday – Navan
📅 Thursday – Dundalk

🫶 All FASN services are FREE and confidential.

If you're unsure whether a peer support group is right for you, you can contact us first and have a conversation about the support available.

📞 087 904 6405
🌐 www.fasn.ie

💜 You don't have to wait until things get worse to reach out. You don't have to navigate someone else's addiction alone.

📢 Please share this post — it may reach a family member who needs to see it.

Monaghan Integrated Development CLG Cars, Bikes and Coffee Monaghan Healthy Monaghan YouthWork Ireland Cavan Monaghan SOSAD Monaghan Solas Drop-In Centre MaCYSS - Monaghan and Cavan Youth Substance Support Cavan Monaghan Connects Teach Na nDaoine Cavan Monaghan Drug & Alcohol Forum Hope Cottage supporting families affected by substance use Northeast Recovery & Wellbeing Initiative

31/08/2026

📢💙 FASN 5K RUN 2026 – RUNNING FOR RESILIENCE! 💙🏃‍♀️

Run for Resilience. Run for Family. Run for FASN.

We’re delighted to invite you to join us on Sunday, 11th October 2026 at 12 noon for the FASN 5K Fun Run & Walk in Dundalk — a community fundraising event in support of the Family Addiction Support Network (FASN). 💙

Whether you’re a regular runner, taking on your first 5K, planning to walk it with friends or family, or simply want to get involved and support a cause that matters, we’d love to see you at the start line! 👟

🏃‍♀️ THE 5K

This is a road-based, chipped and timed 5K, starting on the pedestrian walkway beside Friary School, Anne Street, Dundalk.

📅 Sunday, 11th October 2026
⏰ Race starts: 12 noon
📍 Start: Pedestrian Walkway beside Friary School, Anne Street, Dundalk
🏁 5K road-based course
⏱️ Chipped & timed

And you don’t have to be a runner! Walkers and participants of different abilities are very welcome. 🙌

👕 FREE EVENT T-SHIRT

Register early! The first 100 people to register will receive a FREE FASN 5K event T-shirt, with sizes subject to availability.

🏅 FINISHER’S MEDAL FOR EVERYONE

Everyone who completes the event will receive a finisher’s medal — whether you run, jog or walk your way around the 5K. 💙

📋 REGISTRATION ON THE DAY

Registration will open from 10:30am on race morning at:

📍 Dominican Friary Hall
Anne Street, Dundalk
A91 XW2T

The hall is located beside Friary School and close to the race start.

💙 RUNNING FOR RESILIENCE

This 5K is an important fundraiser for FASN, and every person who registers and takes part is helping us raise vital funds to support our work with families affected by a loved one’s substance misuse.

It’s also an opportunity to bring people together as a community — to run, walk, have some fun and show solidarity with families who can often face incredibly difficult circumstances. 🤝💙

✨ Every registration matters. Every kilometre counts. Every step makes a difference.

So gather your family, friends, colleagues or running buddies, get the runners out and join us in Dundalk this October! 👟🏃‍♀️🚶‍♂️

💙 Walk with us. Run with us. Stand with families.

🎟️ REGISTER HERE: https://eventmaster.ie/event/WYl3H65i0j

📅 Sunday 11th October | 12 Noon | Dundalk

Run for Resilience. Run for Family. Run for FASN. 💙

📣 Please share and help us spread the word!

30/08/2026

💜𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 - 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 & 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿

When someone you love is struggling with addiction, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

You may constantly wonder where they are, whether they are safe, whether they are using, whether they have money, whether the phone will ring with bad news, or what might happen next. 😔

These feelings are completely understandable. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲.

But there is an important distinction:

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
Your worry cannot control their substance use.
It cannot make different choices for them.
It cannot guarantee their safety.
And unfortunately, it cannot prevent something bad from happening.

What constant worry can do is keep your body and mind in a prolonged state of alert. 🧠⚠️

You may notice:

😴 Difficulty sleeping
💭 Constant overthinking
📱 Checking your phone repeatedly
😟 Imagining worst-case scenarios
❤️ Feeling guilty when you try to enjoy yourself
😩 Exhaustion and irritability
🫥 Gradually losing yourself in someone else's addiction

𝗦𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 "𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?", 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴:

🌿 "𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱?"

1️⃣ 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗧

"I'm really anxious about them right now."

You don't have to fight the feeling or judge yourself for having it. Simply recognising what is happening can help interrupt the cycle.

2️⃣ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧

Ask yourself:

"Is something happening right now that requires action - or is my mind trying to predict what might happen?"

If there is an immediate safety concern, respond appropriately. If there isn't, bring yourself back to what is actually happening now.

Take a few slower breaths. Feel your feet on the floor. Go outside. Walk. Make a cup of tea. Give your nervous system an opportunity to settle. 🌿

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡'𝗧

You cannot control whether another adult uses drugs or alcohol, seeks treatment, tells the truth or chooses recovery.

You can control your responses, your boundaries, what you financially support, what behaviour you accept in your home and how you look after yourself.

That isn't giving up on them. 💜

4️⃣ 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

Anxiety often tells us:

"I have to fix this."
"I need to check on them."
"What if something happens?"
"Maybe I should give them the money this time."

Before reacting, pause.

Ask yourself: "Am I responding to what is actually needed - or am I responding because I need this anxiety to go away?"

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

5️⃣ 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙

🤝 Talk to someone.
🚶 Go for your walk.
🍲 Eat properly.
😴 Protect your sleep.
☕ Meet a friend.
📖 Do something unrelated to addiction.
❤️ Allow yourself moments of happiness without guilt.

Looking after yourself does not mean you care less about your loved one.

𝙄𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 - 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨.

💜 You can love someone deeply.
💜 You can hope they find recovery.
💜 You can support positive change.
💜 You can be there when appropriate.

And you can do all of those things without living every day in fear alongside their addiction.

🌸 If someone else's addiction or addictive behaviour is affecting your wellbeing, FASN is here to support you too. You don't have to carry it alone.

25/08/2026

📢💜 𝗪𝗘’𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡! 💜📢

When someone you love is struggling with addiction or substance misuse, it can affect the whole family. 💔 The worry, stress, uncertainty and emotional impact can often leave family members and friends feeling isolated and unsure of where to turn.

🤝 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲

FASN is delighted to be starting 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻, providing a safe and supportive space for family members and friends affected by a loved one’s addiction or substance misuse.

💜 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣

📅 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕚 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 𝟭𝟭.𝟬𝟬𝗮𝗺 – 𝟭𝟮.𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺
📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗖𝗼. 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻, 𝗛𝟭𝟴 𝗖𝗞𝟭𝟱
🔄 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆

The group offers an opportunity to:

🤝 Connect with others who understand
💬 Share your experiences in a safe and confidential space
💚 Receive support and encouragement
🌱 Learn ways to cope and look after your own wellbeing
✨ Find hope, strength and support

🌙 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗡 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦:

📅 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 – 𝗖𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻
📅 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 – 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘆 /𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗱𝗮
📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 – 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗻
📅 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 – 𝗗𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗸

𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 💜

🫶 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗡 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

📞 𝟬𝟴𝟳 𝟵𝟬𝟰 𝟲𝟰𝟬𝟱
🌐 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗳𝗮𝘀𝗻.𝗶𝗲

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 💜



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