Conference will see speakers including Paul Reid and Dave Higham address ongoing addiction issues in Ireland
23 October 2023: Coolmine, the national drug and alcohol treatment charity, Trinity College Dublin and EWODOR (European Working Group On Drug-Oriented Recovery Research) has today commenced the EWODOR conference on alcohol and drug addiction.
EWODOR has a long history of bringing together academics and industry professionals from around Europe and beyond to share the latest research on addiction treatment and recovery.
The symposium will see leading researchers and speakers on addiction issues travel to Trinity College Dublin to discuss pressing issues facing those battling addiction over two days.
The topic for this year’s conference is the importance of communities, connection and support in fostering addiction recovery. The resources and assets that people can use to start and sustain their recovery from addiction fall under the category of recovery capital.
The conference comes against the backdrop of a deepening drugs crisis and with the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs due to report its recommendations shortly, Coolmine is urging all stakeholders to act quickly and urgently to roll out robust health-based treatment programmes to prevent the drugs crisis worsening.
Speaking at the launch of the EWODOR conference in Trinity College Dublin, Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine said ” Recovery is often approached from an overly individualistic perspective, ignoring the real benefits of community based care. In order to encourage relational recovery and lived experience knowledge, the idea of “recovery ready communities” has been established. This has sparked the development of alternative services, new networks, and cutting-edge techniques and policies that support sustainable recovery journeys and communities. This research will be highlighted at the conference.”
In the first six months of 2023, Coolmine noted an increase in demand for its residential treatment programmes across all of its 15 service centres and 22 satellite offices. Over 1,500 individuals were supported by Coolmine in the first 6 months of 2023. This represents a 35% increase on the same period in 2022.
Cocaine and alcohol were identified as the two most prevalent problem drugs for clients seeking treatment. This year we have seen a 19% increase of individuals presenting for problem cocaine use.
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For interview or further information, please contact:
coolmine@pentagroup.co
About Coolmine
Coolmine believes that everyone should have the opportunity to overcome addiction and lead a fulfilled and productive life.
Coolmine takes a therapeutic approach to recovery, dealing with the socio-economic and environmental problems that has brought a person into addiction. We aim to reintegrate vulnerable people into society through education, care, and a sense of purpose.
Coolmine clients are frequently from backgrounds of poverty and generational cycles of addiction. Clients are often former prisoners, homeless people, people who grew up without education.
