A new seminar aims to address the issue of accessibility of addiction services for Ireland’s ethnic minorities.
The official launch event for the Polish Centre for Addiction Counseling (CKU), in co-operation with the South Inner City Drug Task Force and the Coolmine Theraputic Comm-unity, hopes to gather key players in the area of addiction counseling to analyse existing policies and strategies, the capacities of service providers and opportunities for collaboration.
CKU, which registered as an official organisation in May this year, first emerged in 2009 as a response to a significant number of Polish nationals affected by addiction who could not access relevant mainstream services due to various barriers. Over the last two years CKU has provided support to about 300 clients, with all its work done on a voluntary basis.
“This seminar focuses on effective co-operation between service providers, which will lead to genuine support for people struggling with addiction and their families despite of language barriers,” said Mariola Mastek, CKU co-ordinator. “We hope to share experiences of addiction counselling and of managing organisations and fundraising.”
Colm Brown, co-ordinator of the South Inner City Local Drug Task Force, added: “The CKU service has grown beyond all expectations and because of its voluntary nature the service has come under severe pressure.
“Our task force recognises the need to support CKU and we are currently examining a request for capital funding. It is my belief that when this project is properly developed financially, it will be a major addition to counselling in Ireland.”
