The Clondalkin Drug and Alcohol Task Force (CDATF) have co-delivered a number of initiatives in recent times in partnership with local voluntary and statutory organisations that have produced significant positive outcomes for service users, families and the community. Based on a ‘community of practice approach’, these initiatives were successful because of the process adopted by CDATF and other agencies when developing responses to specific issues affecting the community. The success of these initiatives has been recognised locally, regionally and nationally, resulting in CDATF often receiving requests to share their process or model.

Thus, to capture the essence of this work and in the spirit of sharing practice, CDATF commissioned the compilation and publication of ‘The Clondalkin Model’ as it was applied to the following five key initiatives:

1 Dual Diagnosis

2 Culturally appropriate substance misuse education

3 Culturally appropriate counselling & referral pathways

4, Support, Advice, Free Exchange, Empathy (SAFE) harm reduction intervention

5 Schools based substance misuse education programme

Each initiative is directly relevant to the National Drug Strategy and also aligned to the three strategic goals of the CDATF 2018-2025 Strategy, namely:

1 Dealing with the effects of drug and alcohol misuse.

2 Strengthening the role of the community in addressing the causes of drug and alcohol misuse.

3 Having a positive influence on mainstream services and contributing to more integrated responses.