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 2021.1

Coolmine House

Located in Dublin City centre, services provided at Coolmine House include one-to-one counselling, assessment, and information to support and assist clients to make the right choice to get help. 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 2021, some 802 individuals were supported in Coolmine House, with a 59% retention rate in the DFDP.

Source: Coolmine (2022, p. 14)

Community and day services (green marker): Coolmine House, Dublin 2; D15 Community Addiction Team, Dublin 15; Coolmine Midwest, Mahon House, Limerick City; Coolmine Cork City North Hub, The Glen; Coolmine Cork City South Hub, Mary Street; Coolmine East Cork Hub, Midleton; Coolmine West Cork Hub, Ahiohill; Coolmine North Cork Hub, Spa Glen, Mallow; Coolmine Kerry Hub, Dóchas House, Tralee. Women and children’s residential services (pink marker): Ashleigh House, Dublin 15; Westbourne House, Limerick. Men’s residential services (blue marker): Coolmine Lodge, Dublin 15. Administrative office (brown marker): 7 Ringwood Centre, Damastown, Dublin 15. 

Figure 1: Coolmine services and locations, 2021 

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 2021, some 344 individuals were supported by the D15 CAT team.·        

Coolmine residential services

Coolmine Lodge – men’s residential

Coolmine Lodge in Dublin 15 is a therapeutic community that hosts a five-month residential treatment programme for men who are working towards an independent life, free from addiction. It 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 2021, some 90 men were supported in residential treatment at Coolmine Lodge, with a 76% retention rate. Twenty-seven per cent of admissions to Coolmine Lodge in 2021 were referrals from the Probation Service or Irish Prison Service.

Ashleigh House – women and children’s residential

Ashleigh House in Dublin 15 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 2021, some 63 women were supported in residential treatment at Ashleigh House. 

New services

In 2021, Coolmine established community-based facilities in the Midwest and Southwest of Ireland. All Coolmine community and day services provide assertive outreach strategies, pre-entry supports, stabilisation, and day programmes. At year-end, there were 13 facilities operating nationally (see Figure 1), with 241 new referrals to Coolmine Midwest, while 345 individuals were worked with in Coolmine Southwest.

1    Coolmine (2022) Coolmine annual report 2021. Dublin: Coolmine. Available from: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/37483/