A life on Methadone to a life in Recovery - Paul McDonnell

Dr. Tom O'Brien

Paul McDonnell was a on heroin and methadone for over 20 years until he arrived in Tiglin, the Co. Wicklow Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. This interview gives a brief insight into his life from leaving school early to using heroin on a regular basis, until he found recovery. Now he is giving back, working in the Tiglin and training to be an addiction worker. When I met him he had just returned from an internship in Canada. Tiglin Challenge is based on the principles of the Teen Challenge Christian based organisation which started caring for troubled youth in New York City in 1958 by David Wilkerson Author of “The Cross and the Switchblade”. The program now has over 500 Teen Challenge Centres in 90 different countries worldwide. Tiglin Challenge strives to help the ‘whole person’, not just the substance abuse. The Tiglin Challenge approach is to teach a whole new way of living by addressing family relationships, work attitudes, self image, peer pressure, temptation, community relationships and a variety of other life skills. Mission Statement To provide individuals with an effective and comprehensive solution to life-controlling addiction problems, including gambling, in order to become productive members of society. Tiglin, operating under a Christian ethos, endeavours to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.