Today we presented our Annual Report at Ashleigh House, Damastown Walk.
Coolmine supported 1,350 individuals in 2015 with a range of community, day and residential programmes. While heroin addiction is growing in Ireland, Coolmine continued to see the trend and impact of increased poly drug use, most notably benzodiazepine, alcohol as well as mental health issues across all primary treatment services. During the year, Coolmine increased the number of admissions by 42% with increased capacity in both residential services and its new programmes including the Community Alcohol Treatment Programme and the Cannabis Programme. Coolmine’s Community Alcohol Programme (CAP) in Blanchardstown supported 51 individuals with primary problematic alcohol use during the year.
“Independent research shows that 85% of those who complete the Coolmine treatment remain drug-free two years later. However, many of those who relapse tend to be those who cannot find appropriate housing and end up either returning to a drug-addiction environment or to a difficult family situation or living rough. Helping those who have successfully completed the treatment provides a myriad of benefits for society and for the Exchequer as these people successfully return to and contribute to society,” (Alan Connolly, Coolmine Chair)
Ms Amy Blake, acting CEO said that Coolmine’s Cannabis/Mental Health Programme supported clients to reduce or cease their problematic use paralleled with a targeted focus on stabilising their mental health well-being and the team worked with 39 clients in three twelve-week programmes from within existing resources in 2015. “We also noted that 50% of all admissions to our male residential facility came were directly from the Irish prison service. In addition, we have seen a consistent demand, with over 100 prisoners nationally seeking addiction treatment in Coolmine Lodge.” “We are committed to developing a drug free prison therapeutic community in the Irish prison estate to meet this demand and look forward to progressing this strategic aim in collaboration with the Irish Prison Service during 2016,” Amy said.
Speaking at the launch Michael Donnellan Director General of the Irish Prison Service said that he believed, without doubt, that drugs and drug use were the biggest problems facing society. “It is not just the individual drug user themselves who suffers but, also their family, their loved ones, their community, everybody. I see the biggest challenge as showing people that drugs are not the answer and that they create infinitely more problems than they solve. “As Director General of the Prison Service I see on a regular basis, the benefits of the great work carried out in organisations like Coolmine Therapeutic Community and I look forward to our continued working partnership,” he said.
Coolmine has strengthened its commitment to evidence-based treatments through the Parent under Pressure programme (PUP) for high risk families. 45 mothers in Ashleigh House engaged in this programme, resulting in significant reductions in depression, anxiety and stress in parents as well as improvements in children’s behaviour, emotional life and structure. Coolmine’s 2015 budget was €3.3 million, with only 5% spent on administration, ensuring that the majority of this funding is spent directly on helping people overcome addiction.
Funders include The Department of Justice & Equality via Probation Service, Health Service Executive, Department of Health, Dublin City Council, Department of Social Protection, South Inner City and Blanchardstown Local Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, Leargas and The National Lottery Fund. The team also worked with Ana Liffey Drugs Project, Arbour House Cork, Community Employment Schemes, Focus Ireland, ADAPT Community Drugs Team, Fingal County Council, Dublin City Council Irish Prison Services, Merchants Quay Ireland, Pavee Point, Peter McVerry Trust, CKU Polish Counselling Service,Tolka River Rehabilitation Project and The Salvation Army. Coolmine’s services are quality assured by the Royal College of Psychiatry Community of Communities accreditation process a standard specifically for Therapeutic Community service providers.
1350+ People were supported by Coolmine in 2015
42% – Increase on residential admissions in 2015
81 – Women resided in Ashleigh House, the only mother & child facility in Ireland
24 – Children accessed our full time child care service at Ashleigh House
100- Prisoners seeking addiction treatment in Coolmine
168 – Men resided with us in Coolmine Lodge in 2015
54 – Clients were supported in our Drug Free Day Programme in the city centre.
242 – Progressions across the main Coolmine services during 2015
49 – Clients graduated from our services in 2015
35 – Family members were supported weekly through our Family Support Programme.
