Coolmine Therapeutic Community in Co Dublin celebrated 40 years in service delivery on Friday 17 May. A commemorative event was held at Coolmine Lodge to mark the occasion and a book aptly entitled 40 years helping people find their way home was launched, which includes a collection of stories from past Coolmine clients.  Established in 1973, Coolmine was the first specialist drug treatment centre of its kind in the country 

  President Michael D Higgins with Coolmine Chairman Brian Ward and CEO Pauline McKeown at the 40-year celebration event

Coolmine’s mission is to provide a range of quality community and residential services to empower people to end their dependence on drugs and alcohol. The continuum of care services range from detoxification through to lifelong aftercare, and include: outreach services; drop in services (where clients contemplating a drug free life can initially seek help/advice); stabilisation programmes; day programmes; residential programmes (including the only mother and child residential programme in the country); educational programmes; and community employment.

The treatment approach is based on peer support, in which drug-free participants, who live in small, structured, drug-free housing, are expected to contribute to the general running of the community and to their own recovery by actively taking part in educational activities and in group and individual therapy sessions.