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Irish Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former addict calls for crackdown on over-counter medicines containing codeine
A former addict who was told by doctors he's lucky to be alive after taking 72 tablets of Nurofen Plus is calling for stricter laws on medicines containing codeine. Mark Fearon, 47, is eight months clean after a three-year addiction to the over-the-counter painkillers that almost took his life. Nurofen Plus contains both ibuprofen and codeine. While these tablets can be bought without a prescription in Ireland, medical advice is they shouldn't be taken for more than three days. But Mark, from Stepaside, South Dublin, travelled around the capital to different pharmacies to get his fix and even hobbled into stores to illustrate his pain to chemists. It all began to alleviate lower back pain that he suffered all his adult life, but it slowly crept into an addiction that took hold of his life. He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: 'I underestimated the power of Nurofen Plus. I said I'd stay on them until the pain was gone. 'At six months I said, 'Why am I still taking these? The pain is long gone. By six months I was up to a pack a day.' Mark realised he had a serious problem and one night decided to go cold turkey, but had unbearable withdrawals and the next day was at the chemist. He continued: 'As my usage crept up I started to notice a very small euphoric feeling. 'It was enough for me to start to like that feeling, want it, and keep on getting it. 'But that's when I started to feel unwell, I started to get stomach cramps, and it was impacting my health. 'Monday would roll by and I'd always try to stop. I tried to taper myself down, but I would get to Wednesday and my usage would just go up. 'And I was in that same cycle for the next two years. 'My usage was getting higher and higher and I was getting sicker and sicker. 'Then towards the end, I had built up to three packs every day, which is 72 tablets.' At this stage in his addiction, Mark's family and friends began to notice that he was extremely unwell. The Dubliner had stomach ulcers, was rapidly losing weight, was turning green, and his mental health was deteriorating. After vomiting blood at a friend's wedding, Mark decided he needed professional help and went to his GP. It was then he was told that he was just moments away from death. Mark continued: 'He ordered blood tests immediately and two days later said you have to go straight to the hospital. 'He said my haemoglobin level is so low that I had no oxygen running around my body. I was on the verge of a stroke. 'So I got blood transfusions, three pints of blood. The doctors said, 'You are extremely lucky to be here. You don't understand how close you were to death'. 'If I had left it much longer, I wouldn't be here.' After this hospital visit, Mark did relapse, but he then went back to his GP, who referred him to a seven-week programme at St Patrick's Hospital. While the Dubliner says it was the toughest seven weeks of his life, it saved him, and he is now happier than ever. Mark says these tablets can't simply be taken off the shelves, as people do need them. However, he believes stricter practices need to be in place – such as limiting customers to one packet a month using their ID. The Dubliner said he decided to open up about his addiction as so many other people are in the same position. He said: 'Nobody talks about codeine addiction, and I've seen with my own eyes at pharmacies the number of people who can buy this stuff. 'Hundreds of people have the exact same story as me from every corner of Ireland,' Mark said. Reckitt Benckiser, the pharmaceutical company that makes Nurofen Plus, has been contacted for comment.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Convicted drink drivers may soon have to use breathalyser to get behind wheel
Convicted drink drivers will only be allowed back on the roads if they use a device in which they must pass a breath test before their car will start, it has emerged. The plans are part of phase two of a Government initiative to end drink driving for good and bring down fatal road accidents rates. Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will soon bring a memo to Cabinet on the Phase 2 Action Plan for the Road Safety Strategy. The draft memo, seen by the Irish Sunday Mirror, stated that the strategy has the 'target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030' and to achieve 'Vision Zero', or as close as possible to no deaths or serious injuries, on Irish roads by 2050. The Strategy is divided into three phases: 2021 to 2024, 2025 to 2027 and 2028 to 2030. The plan that will be brought to Cabinet by Minister O'Brien is phase two of the strategy. The draft report is divided into seven 'priority intervention areas,' including safe and healthy modes of travel, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe road use, safe-work-related road use and 'post-crash response'. One action, listed under both safe road use and safe-work related road use, suggests introducing more penalties for those who are caught drink driving. This includes the use of Alcohol Ignition Interlocks, a breathalyser fitted to a vehicle preventing it from starting until the driver provides a breath sample below a designated limit. It continues: 'The MBRS (Medical Bureau of Road Safety) tested and approved a number of interlock products in phase one of the strategy, to support the voluntary uptake of these devices, particularly by organisations with large vehicle fleets. 'In phase two, proposals will be brought forward, based on expert medical research, for the possible mandatory use of alcohol interlocks, alongside rehabilitation courses, as a sanction for drunk driving in certain cases.' The report suggests that this will 'lay the groundwork for further action on their deployment in phase three', which will span between 2028 and 2030. As of June 19, there have been 77 people killed on Irish roads so far this year. According to the report, if Ireland wants to reach Vision Zero by 2050, annual road fatalities would need to drop to 72 by 2030. There were 172 road deaths last year, which is above the target of 122 to meet Vision Zero. Other actions in the plan include expanding the 'efficiency and capability of camera-based enforcement to improve road safety by changing driver behaviour'. This will involve using cameras to 'automatically detect mobile phone use and non-wearing of seat belts'. It will also expand 'the use of cameras for traffic management improvements and enforcement of other offences where road safety is likely to also benefit'. Following the Speed Limit Review in 2023, the report recommends continuing with its implementation, including reducing the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100kph to 80kph and bylaws to extend the number of 30kph zones. The Department of Transport will publish a strategy to take a 'systems approach' to reducing kilometres travelled, air pollution and congestion. The RSA will be tasked with publishing the Road Collision Facts every two years and reviewing the content of the Rules of the Road. It will also analyse hospital discharge records to 'quantify the number of road users hospitalised following road traffic collision' and the number sustaining serious injuries.
Irish Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish mum's warning after chickenpox nearly kills son, 6
A mum whose family's life changed 'in the blink of an eye' when her son almost died from the chickenpox virus is calling for better services for children with acquired brain injuries. Six years ago, Olivia Conway's son Cian, now 12, was left fighting for his life after having a stroke at home. Doctor's believe he had a severe reaction to the chickenpox virus, which is rarely deadly for children. The mother, from Co Tipperary, is now a family carer for her son, a job she says is made even harder as getting adequate services is 'a postcode lottery'. Speaking to the Irish Sunday Mirror as Family Carers Week kicks off on Monday, she said: 'It was very serious initially, there was an acute phase where he was fighting for his life. At one stage, we had to bring up the rest of the family to say their goodbyes.' After a craniotomy - an intense surgery which sees the removal of a part of the skull for a period of time - little Cian was on the long road to recovery. He spent 20 weeks in hospital, as his loving parents stayed by his side. Olivia continued: 'He was a six-year-old boy, but it was like the care needs of a baby. He was fed through a tube and we turned him every few hours in the bed. He made improvements and he surpassed all the odds. Initially, we were told he'd never speak, he'd never walk, but he's no longer a wheelchair user. With early intervention and appropriate rehabilitation, the brain is amazing. There's so much healing that can go on with the right services and the right intervention.' Now 12 years old, Cian's mum describes him as " very strong-minded, independent, competitive, extremely social,' and he has a great sense of humour. Due to his acquired brain injury, he struggles with his speech, the use of his right arm and hand, fatigue management, and recall and memory processing. The mother-of-four admits that it has been a tough and long road, and being a carer has its challenges. She said: 'It's a journey from day one. You have to educate yourself on an acquired brain injury and no two patients are the same, no two sets of needs are the same. 'But you find yourself wearing multiple hats. You nearly have to be a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, a teacher, a counsellor. There's also an element of acceptance and having to accept the role you're in. It is a permanent role all day, every day, 24/7 and forever more. There is no end in sight for a lot of people and there is often fear around thinking about what the future holds. "Carers go above and beyond for the person they care for, often at a cost to their own health and life opportunities, sometimes reaching burnout.' The mother also works part-time for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI Ireland), a charity that has been paramount in helping the family navigate Cian's injury. Olivia said that getting access to the right services is a constant battle, as there is no organisation in Ireland with overall responsibility for the neuro physical rehabilitation journey of children with acquired brain injuries. She continued: 'Often it is dependent on the advocacy and persistence of the parents/carers, which should not be the case. Many carers are exhausted, overwhelmed and fatigued from their caring role and should not be expected to fight for their children's basic human rights. 'They need therapies in place. There's a lot of science and evidence out there to show that the sooner people get the support and the rehabilitation, the better prognosis they have.' Carer's Week kicks off on June 9 as various charities, including ABI Ireland, aim to raise awareness of the important work family carers do. As part of the awareness week, ABI Ireland has launched a new book to help families called Piecing it Together. It is intended to make life easier for families impacted by an acquired brain injury and includes personal accounts of carers' lived experiences, artworks, poetry, practical guidance, signposting, tools and resources.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Arthur Gourounlian on racism and homophobia in Ireland
Dancing With The Stars judge Arthur Gourounlian calls Ireland home, but says he will always experience racism and homophobia. In the early 1990s, the Armenian dancer fled his home country for Belgium, where he sought asylum. He now happily lives in Dublin with his husband Brian Dowling and their two daughters Blake and Blu. But as hate towards immigrants and refugees appears to be on the rise, Arthur told the Irish Sunday Mirror it is something he experiences. After launching Newbridge Silverware's new 'Legendary Blue Box' campaign, the choreographer said: 'Ireland welcomed me with open arms. I've been so so lucky, Ireland is my home, and nobody will take that away from me. 'We're always going to get abuse from me being a refugee, the jealousy, the racism and homophobia. Brian and I will always get that no matter what, no matter where you are. 'But they are the 3%, the 97% are absolutely incredible. So I'm speaking from my experience, my story. Online the other day I was told 'You French c**t go back home'. I had to go back and say 'Maybe get your facts right I'm Armenian'. 'But guess what? They're not going to defeat me. They're not going to do anything to me because they're not part of my life. It's okay. It's not okay, but it's okay.' The Dancing with the Stars judge is a Eurovision fanatic and was part of the panel that chose Ireland's entry on the Late Late Eurosong contest. Speaking hours before the Eurovision semi-final on Thursday, Arthur said he was very positive that Norwegian singer Emmy would take Ireland to the final with her entry Laika Party. He said: 'It's fun, it's catchy. So hopefully people are gonna hear that and see that she looks great. She can sing for the room and get seen.' Arthur said he doesn't think it's unfair that a singer who isn't from Ireland or lives here can represent the country. The Eurovision expert also thinks it could be an advantage, as Norwegians may pick up the phone for Ireland. He added: 'When people come for people, please take your facts as the girl who has co-written the song is Irish. 'It's not about the person, it's about the song. It's called the Eurovision Song Contest.' Samantha Mumba, who was one of five hopefuls for this year's entry, lashed out at Arthur and his fellow panellists - including 2fM's Laura Fox and Donal Skehan - when she wasn't chosen. Taking to Instagram, she wrote: 'Special mention to the 'panel' (aside from Bambie who I stan) who not only didn't have the credentials, experience or professionalism required and were unnecessarily rude and vile to all the finalists - my parting gift them is a bag of (aubergine emoji) to slowly choke on.' Arthur stayed fairly quiet online following the backlash but said on Thursday that contestants who can't be criticised shouldn't enter the competition. He said: 'I was paid to do a job and sit in that chair and that's exactly what I did. When you do a competition like that, no matter if it's X-Factor or any competition that there are judges or a panel you have to get ready to be criticised or told off or things like that. 'So if you can't handle that, it's not for you.' The Dancing With The Stars judge was speaking as he launched Newbridge Silverware's new 'Legendary Blue Box' campaign that tribute timeless style and craftsmanship. He produced and directed a new campaign video for the brand, who he said was 'a dream' to work with.
Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Positivity' for Alzheimer's treatment as new drug approved that slows it down
There has never been 'such positivity' about treatments for Alzheimer's, and big changes will come in just a few months. This is according to Immunologist Luke O'Neill, as a drug that will slow down the disease was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Recent studies also suggest that the shingles vaccine may be associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Some research has indicated a 20% lower risk of developing the disease over a seven-year period. Speaking to the Irish Sunday Mirror, Professor O'Neill said: 'There was a big conference in Vienna two weeks ago, which I wasn't at but I saw the reports and you've never heard such a positivity. 'It's extremely encouraging was the phrase they were using and as to what's happening with things like Alzheimer's.' The drug approved by the EMA and earlier by the FDA is called Lecanemab. It works by targeting and removing amyloid-beta proteins from the brain, which are believed to play a key role in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease. The immunologist said massive work is underway to identify what people this drug is working for. He believes in the 'coming months' this will be made more clear. Professor O'Neill continued: 'It's causing great excitement because it's the first drug ever to slow down the disease, as it gets worse and worse as you get older. 'So here we have the first example of something slowing it down. The main thing is to find out who is going to respond, and that's going to happen in the coming months.' There is currently massive work on this underway, including in Dublin. The PREVENT dementia programme is the world's largest study investigating the origins and early diagnosis of dementia in a mid-life 'at risk' cohort. It has recruited and deeply phenotyped 700 participants aged 40-59 across the UK and Ireland. AI is also expected to vastly speed up drug trials, as Professor Luke says 'there's no doubt' it will positively impact the pharmaceutical industry. There are currently 127 drugs being tested for Alzheimer's, as incidence is increasing. In Ireland, the number of people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are expected to double by 2045. However, Professor O'Neill stressed that these drugs are looking very positive, and that lifestyle changes also have a massive impact. He continued: 'Good news is amazing studies have come out showing that if you to change your lifestyle, you'll decrease your risk of Alzheimer and dementia in general. And you wouldn't believe the data on this is getting stronger and stronger. 'They reckon that 45% of dementia can be prevented by changing your lifestyle. We're talking about the usual things like good diet, exercise, keeping your brain active.' The immunologist said high cholesterol, loss of hearing and loneliness are also risk factors for the disease. He added: 'These are things we can all do to decrease our risk of getting it, and they are very optimistic.'
