Irish woman inspired to work in addiction after…

Irish woman inspired to work in addiction after brother died from 'N Bomb' drug taken at house party

A young woman, who decided to work in the field of addiction when her brother passed away after taking the synthetic drug N Bomb, has received a Social Enterprise Mark CIC award.

Alex Ryan (18) of Liscahane in Millstreet, Co Cork died on January 23, 2016, after consuming a synthetic drug of the 2C family called 251 NBOMe at a house party in the city.

His older sister Nicole Ryan has visited dozens of schools around the country to speak to students and to raise awareness of the dangers of synthetic drugs.

Nicole says when Alex died she made decision to give up her career in engineering to go back to college and study addiction.

She graduated with a a 2:1 from UCC in the field of Addiction Studies and is accredited as an Addiction Counsellor by Addiction Counsellors of Ireland. She is now a Business Development Advisor with Social Impact Ireland.

Following the death of her brother Nicole set up "Alex's Adventure" with the aim of educating post primary students on substance misuse and the real life effects our choices have on our lives. It offers a wide range of services to help young people learn about substances and substance misuse.

Ms Ryan said that she was delighted to win an award from Social Impact Ireland.

"Six years ago when I started out everybody thought i was mad to go for the unconventional structure of a limited business and over the years it went from "this will never work" to "how did you make it work?

"This (the award) is a seal of approval that a Social Enterprise is a business with impact at the heart alongside profits for purpose to enable me to become sustainable and create greater impact. I am so proud of myelf for getting to this place."

Meanwhile, following the inquest of Alex Ryan, Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn wrote to the Department of Education calling for more drugs awareness programmes in schools.

Furthermore at the inquest in 2018 of 16-year-old, Michael Cornacchia, who died from an overdose of fentanyl in Cork, Mr Comyn again repeated his call for additional resources to be put in to drugs education in post primary schools.

He also wrote to the National Association of Secondary Teachers, the Department of Education and to teacher unions about the matter.

Six foot seven inch “gentle giant” Alex was a popular past pupil of Millstreet Community School. His death led the HSE to issue a warning about the dangers of the 2C family of psychedelic drugs.

These drugs can be sold in liquid, powder and tablet form and are consumed for their stimulant and mood altering properties.

After Alex died Nicole and her mum spread his ashes at Ballyheigue Beach in County Kerry where they had such happy holiday memories.

“When we go there we feel very close to him. We are glad that Alex’s death was not wasted and that through (my website) Alex’s Adventures he is very much alive in our minds and hearts.

“I love spreading the word to young people about the dangers of drug taking and the choices they have to make. By doing this it helps ease the grief and is a positive way of celebrating his short life”.