A former cocaine addict turned addiction counsellor says there’s a drug epidemic in rural Ireland.
Strokestown native Donal Hanly first started using cocaine in his late 20s.
He says his addiction to the drug and to alcohol led to two suicide attempts.
The former Strokestown player won two county titles with the club before drugs took over his life.
He’s now a counsellor at Hope House in Foxford, Co Mayo but says the drug has become a major problem in GAA circles:
Christmas is a tough time for those in the throes of addiction.
Donal says there are signs parents and loved ones can watch out for: