Addiction Services
Many people, especially those who are long-term homeless, have suffered deep social exclusion and often wish for help in addressing a variety of needs, including problem alcohol and drug use.
Our addiction services form part of our specialist services that aim to foster inclusion in mainstream society.
Our current addiction services include:
- An Addiction Stabilisation residential programme.
- An Addiction Treatment & Aftercare service.
- A Youth Homeless Drug Prevention programme.
“Addiction wants you alone and dead. And it’s the same mentality regardless of what you’re addicted to, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, food, whatever. That’s how my addiction was. I’d use alone and have suicidal thoughts. Now I’m in college and the world is my oyster.”
– Conor
Addiction stabilisation
The emphasis at one of our high-support houses is addiction stabilisation.
Most of the residents there were previously in emergency accommodation and have expressed an interest in addressing their problem alcohol and / or drug use. In many cases they are interested in entering a treatment programme.
We offer people an opportunity to stabilise their addictions through a tailored programme that is recovery focused. Recovery is a personal journey during which each person reclaims a belief and trust in themselves, recovers their voice, and rediscovers a belief and hope in their ability to live a meaningful contributing life, despite the continued presence of many challenges, including addiction.
We tailor a recovery-oriented programme for each resident. One-to-one keyworking, addiction and general counselling, ongoing support from staff and participation in SMART group sessions all play their part in the programme.
The SMART programme -Self Management and Recovery Training, helps people to build and maintain motivation, cope with urges, manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and live a more balanced life.
The aim is for residents to progress to an appropriate residential alcohol / drug treatment programme.
Addiction treatment and aftercare
Our addiction treatment and aftercare service offers support to people before they enter a residential addiction treatment programme, maintains contact with them while they complete the programme and helps secure appropriate housing and other supports that meet people’s recovery needs post-treatment. The goal is to help prevent people returning to homelessness.
People expressing a wish to tackle their addictions are supported into appropriate services – be it a detox programme, our addiction stabilisation programme or a residential addiction treatment programme. We maintain contact with each person, follow their progress and start preparing an aftercare plan for when they successfully complete their treatment programme.
Once the relevant treatment programme is completed, the aftercare plan kicks-in. This includes support around sourcing and securing relevant housing that meets people’s recovery needs. This could be high-support housing, our own housing stock or public or private-rented housing.
If no suitable housing can be secured in time, we have two aftercare houses – one each for men and women, offering some breathing space for people leaving addiction treatment programmes. It prevents people from returning to emergency accommodation or rough sleeping.
Youth homeless drug prevention
Our Youth Homeless Drug Prevention programme offers support for 18-26 year olds who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The programme offers support and referrals around physical and mental health, addiction, accommodation, recreational activities, harm reduction, family relationships and any other support needs the young person identifies.
Youth Homeless Drug Prevention works closely with other service providers throughout Cork, making regular referrals to accommodation providers, addiction treatment centres, counselling, training providers and HSE Adult Homeless Integrated Team.
Supported by the Cork Education and Training Board (formerly Cork VEC) and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, our Youth Homeless Drug Prevention Programme supports young people one-to-one, through detached keyworking (meeting one-to-one with young people staying in emergency or other temporary accommodation) and street work where necessary.
