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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you need help, whether it be information or help for drug or alcohol use, there are a few things you can do:

1

Website

Browse our website which has lots of useful information about drug and alcohol use for you or a loved one.
2

Contact Us

You can find out more information by contacting us through our Contact Page and a member of staff will get back in touch with you.
3

Phone our Outreach and Admissions Team

Still unsure? Consider phoning our Outreach and Admissions Team at 0871229307. A member of our team will be happy to talk to you about your situation.

PRE-ENTRY QUESTIONS

What happens when I make contact?

Once you contact Coolmine, a member of our team will talk to you about the kind of help you are looking for, such as, help for yourself or a family member/friend, help with drug or alcohol use or both

Ok, I need help with my Drug and Alcohol use, what do I do now?

If you are looking for help with drug and alcohol use, we will arrange for you to come in to meet with a member of our Outreach & Admissions Team.  Our team member will sit with you and do an assessment of your needs to find out where you are at with your drug/alcohol use so we can better understand if and how we might be able to help you with your drug/alcohol use.  Whether it be reducing your use or working towards living drug and alcohol-free.  You can find out more information by clicking here.

How long do I have to wait for the assessment?

We try to get you in to do the assessment as soon as possible.  We get a large number of calls from people looking for help.  The wait time can vary, sometimes it could be a 1-day wait but it can also be a 2- or 3-week waiting time, we will do our best to get to you. 

In the meantime, take some time to explore our website, there is lots of useful information available.  We will also offer some suggestions on what you can do and where you can go for support while you wait.

What happens after I do the assessment?

Once you have done your assessment, if suited to your needs, you will be asked to give a urine sample to have tested, we ask this of all clients coming into our service, it helps us to help you.   

You will be invited to come in to join our pre-entry groups the following week.  These groups are run twice a week from Coolmine House, 19 Lord Edward Street, D2 and will help get you ready to access your chosen treatment programmes.  They run on a Monday at 9.30am and on a Friday at 2.30pm.  You can find out more information on our Pre-Entry Groups by clicking here.

What happens if Coolmine isn’t suitable for me?

If our service is not suited to your needs, we will refer you or point you in the right direction of a service that is better suited to meet your support needs.

How long do I have to wait to get into my chosen treatment?

If you are working towards getting into your chosen treatment programme by going to your pre-entry groups, the length of time in pre-entry depends mainly on two things

Our availability

There may not be a place available on our day programmes or a  bed available in our residential treatment programmes straight away but we will do our best to get you to where you need to be as soon as possible.

You

Regular attendance at the pre-entry group.  Part of going to pre-entry requires you to give a weekly urine sample, if you are looking to access, for example, a drug free programme or residential one, you will have to provide at least 2 drug free urine samples to progress on into that treatment programme. 

  • Your progress moving into your chosen treatment will largely depend on you and when you are ready to do so, we will support you in every way we can through the process. 
  • Some people need a little more time in pre-entry to prepare themselves for entry into treatment.  There are many different reasons why this happens, it’s OK.  This is why we have a phased approach, with no time limits on each stage of your recovery.

What happens if I stop going to pre-entry groups for a while but want to get back in, how do I do this?

If for any reason, you choose to stop attending, the option is there for you to come back into the pre-entry groups.  However, depending on the amount of time that has passed will decide if a second assessment will need to be completed before you come back.  We suggest you contact the Outreach & Admissions team to have a chat to them about your options.

If a short period of time, 2 weeks for example, has passed, we encourage you to get in touch with our Outreach & Admissions team to talk to them about your situation.

How much does the treatment or programmes cost?

The bulk of our services are free of charge to people accessing them, however, there is a client contribution for our residential programmes that is used towards the cost of running the programme (this is based on ability to pay).  If you are in receipt of a social welfare payment, you will be provided with a weekly allowance to spend out of this payment and the remainder is used towards your client contribution

Where are your treatment programmes located?

Coolmine now provides a range of quality services in the East, Midwest and Southwest of Ireland.

Our Men’s Residential Service is Coolmine Lodge, based in Dublin 15. Our Women & Children’s Residential Services are Ashleigh House in Dublin 15 and Westbourne House in Limerick City. Our Community & Day Services are based in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Kerry.

To find more information about each of our locations please click here.

I don’t use drugs, but I do drink, is there help for alcohol use?

If you require residential treatment, our residential programmes also admit people for alcohol dependency.  You can contact our staff their to talk to them about accessing the alcohol programme.  There is also a contact and assessment and information morning that happens on a Thursday morning from 10.30 until 1pm.  You can find more information by clicking here

Do you have any detox placement?

Yes, we offer a methadone detox as part of our residential and day treatment services.  Our nursing team and your community prescriber will work together and oversee your detox programme.

I am a mother with young children and do not have someone who can care for them full time, is there a programme option that will allow me to get treatment and continue to care for my kids?

Yes, we have two mother and child residential programmes that may be suited to your needs. These programmes will allow you get into treatment and have your kids stay with you throughout. There is an onsite crèche that you can use while you attend your groups and therapy sessions. 

Our Women & Children’s Residential Services are Ashleigh House in Dublin 15 and Westbourne House in Limerick City. To find more information about each of our locations please click here.

I know I have a problem, but I can’t take time from my job to stay in a residential program. What are my options?

We offer many levels of care and different treatment options that are suited to meet almost anybody’s needs including people that work. What we would suggest, as a first step is to get in touch with us to see exactly what your needs are.

TREATMENT QUESTIONS

What is treatment in Coolmine like?

Whether you choose a residential or day/community service, there is a standard set of programmes and interventions.

A behavioural approach to treatment is supported by a therapeutic programme which provides emotional management, life skills and educational workshops to support behavioural changes in thoughts, feelings and behaviours that feed your drug and alcohol use.  The idea behind these interventions is to allow you to see any your self-destructive behaviours and how they negatively impact your life.

These interventions come in the form of Group and One to One therapy sessions, addiction and behavioural educational workshops, and learning to practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques

You will be welcomed into our programme and will have the support of a Big Brother/Sister to help you settle in and answer any questions you may have about your programme or the community.

We offer assurance to all of our clients that our community is a safe, caring, and positive recovery environment that works to provide you with peace of mind during your treatment and recovery.

What can I bring, and not bring, to residential treatment?

Once you receive an admission date for your residential treatment our staff will talk to you about what is allowed and what you cannot bring with you. You will also get a client handbook that gives you a list of allowed and what to leave at home.

We suggest that you bring 1 large bag, and 1 smaller bag, enough for a week as we have washing facilities on site. When packing, please remember to bring a photo-ID such as a driver’s license or passport.

Some suggestions on what to bring include a contacts list, a small amount of cash, a list of any currently prescribed medications, pictures of loved ones, and comfortable, easy-care clothes.

Will I have a room to myself, or will I be sharing?

All rooms for single people admissions are shared dormitories. Mother and Child admissions have their own individual apartments.

Can my family call me while I’m in residential treatment? Can I use my phone or laptop, email?

You can make calls to loved ones every evening, and  have a visit from a loved one at the weekend.

Can I smoke when I am in treatment?

There are designated outdoor areas that you may smoke in at designated times.

Does your services have different treatment for men and women?

Feedback from our clients tells us that it is helpful, at times for men and women to go to the same programmes, but clients have also told us that it can also feel more comfortable to talk about certain issues that are private or sensitive.

We offer men only residential programmes and women/women and children only residential treatment. Our day and community services are mixed, however, opportunities for men or women only groups are arranged.

Can I go to AA or NA meetings while I am in treatment?

Yes, we encourage all of our clients to use NA and AA as an added recovery support as they offer mutual support and self help meetings. Clients in our residential programmes will have the opportunity to go to meetings accompanied by their peer.

POST TREATMENT QUESTIONS

When I graduate from my aftercare programme, and am finding I am struggling with my recovery, what can I do?

If you are finding things challenging or just want to have an added support when you graduate your aftercare, you have the option to become a member of our Lifelong Support Group. 

This group meets weekly for a peer support meeting, it is run for graduates by graduates. Once a month member arrange a social and fun activity. While you do not have to attend the graduate group, we encourage you to do so, and know that the door to the group is always open to you should you need support.  Information on this group can be found by clicking here.

What happens after my treatment programme finishes?

All of our services provide an aftercare support for when you have finished your treatment primary programme. 

The aftercare programme takes place one evening a week .

The aftercare group is a peer support group. All member of the group will have completed their treatment programmes as well.  You can find out more information by clicking here.