Coolmine Therapeutic Community is a drug and alcohol treatment centre providing community, day, and residential services to men and women with problematic substance use and to their families in Ireland. Established in 1973, Coolmine was founded on the philosophies of the therapeutic community approach to addiction treatment. This is primarily a self-help approach in which residents are responsible for their own recovery, with peers and staff acting as facilitators of change. Participants are expected to contribute to the general running of the community and to their own recovery by actively participating in educational activities and in group and individual therapy. This article highlights services provided by Coolmine in 2020.1

Welcome/Stabilisation Programme

The Welcome/Stabilisation Programme is for people who are not yet drug-free and are seeking support to address their substance use. The programme runs Monday to Friday, from 10.30am to 3.30pm (to 1.00pm on Wednesdays). Clients engage in self-development workshops, one-to-one key working sessions, relapse prevention groups, and various other therapeutic/educational programmes. In 2020, some 30 clients were supported in Coolmine’s Stabilisation Programme.

Drug-Free Day Programme

The Drug-Free Day Programme (DFDP) provides a supportive setting for clients to build self-confidence and the skills to maintain a drug-free life. The programme lasts a minimum of 10 months: 5 months of primary treatment and 5 months of aftercare. Clients engage in open therapy groups, self-development workshops, one-to-one key working sessions, relapse prevention groups, and various other therapeutic/educational programmes. In 2020, some 45 clients engaged in Coolmine’s DFDP programme.

Contingency Management Programme

The Contingency Management (CM) Programme consists of the reinforcement of desired behaviours. These are rewarded in the form of vouchers awarded for a combination of group attendance and drug-free urine tests. The programme is 12 weeks long, with participants attending meetings three times per week. The content of the programme is three supervised urine tests per week, with a brief intervention at every meeting, and a weekly facilitated support group. In 2020, some 32 clients were supported by Coolmine’s CM programme.

Community Addiction Team Dublin 15

The Community Addiction Team Dublin 15 (D15 CAT) service provides focused care pathways specifically to the local community in Dublin 15 impacted by problem substance use. It includes treatment and rehabilitation support for adult men and women with problem substance use; contact and interventions to young people and adolescents at risk of experiencing problematic substance use; tailored support to members of ethnic and new communities impacted by problematic substance use; and integrated family work to deliver whole-family outcomes. Services include:

• Information and support
• Specific support for young people
• Cannabis programme
• Family support
• Alcohol programme
• Support for new community members
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction programme
• Support for all problematic substance use.
• In 2020, some 185 individuals were supported by the D15 CAT team. 

Coolmine residential services

Coolmine Lodge – men’s residential

Coolmine Lodge is a therapeutic community that hosts a five-month residential treatment programme for men who are working towards an independent life, free from addiction. Coolmine Lodge provides a supportive, peer-led environment where clients can build confidence, strength, resilience, and hope for a positive future. The service can admit men who may be prescribed medication, or those detoxifying from methadone, following assessment. In 2020, some 72 men were supported in residential treatment at Coolmine Lodge, with a 78% retention rate. There were 19 residential detox admissions, with a 68% retention rate. Twenty-nine per cent of admissions to Coolmine Lodge in 2020 were referrals from the Probation Service or Irish Prison Service.

Ashleigh House – women and children’s residential

Ashleigh House is a residential therapeutic community for women, expectant mothers, and mothers with young children. The service can admit women who may be prescribed medication, or those detoxifying from methadone, following assessment. Ashleigh House is designed to help women in recovery develop the skills they need to live a drug-free, independent life. In 2020, some 56 women were supported in residential treatment at Ashleigh House, with a 63% retention rate.

1 Coolmine (2021) Coolmine annual report 2020: expanding possibilities. Dublin: Coolmine. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/34580/