A £20,000 scheme to encourage young people in west Dublin to give up drugs has been announced by the Minister of State for Child Care, Mr Austin Currie. The initiative will be CASP (Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme) and is modelled on a similar project in the Killinarden area of Tallaght.
It will involve selecting a number of drug users who have indicated a desire to be helped. The selection will be on the basis of agreed criteria residence in the area for at least a year, support of family, medical report and no convictions for serious dealing.
An integrated programme will be implemented, including community based detoxification supervised by a doctor a local guardian system an individual counselling programme a group support programme run by a qualified facilitator and family support by a counsellor and local volunteers.
There will also be after care, including help lines, social and recreational activities, access to training, employment and project work.