NUI Maynooth,Certificate in Addiction Studies.
Due to the increasing levels of Drugs and Alcohol abuse, both legal and illegal, County Leitrim Community Forum are very proud to provide the first fully accredited addiction studies course to be run in County Leitrim, commencing this October.

County Leitrim Community Forum has secured €10,000 funding from both the North West Regional Drugs Task Force and North West Alcohol Forum Ltd, giving €20,000 which is being used to subsidise this course and assist the community sector to tackle this issue. The funding will be administered by County Leitrim VEC who have agreed to facilitate County Leitrim Community Forum with this initiative.

This same course is being run at several other locations nationwide and will cost participants in excess of €1,000, but by securing this funding County Leitrim Community Forum can offer this course for just €150.

County Leitrim Community Forum organised several information evenings in 2006/7 titled “Drugs in Your Community”, using funding secured from the North West Regional Drugs Task Force, and now see this Certificate course as a natural progression as it will equip our community leaders and activists with an increased level of knowledge regarding addiction, and how best to approach this delicate issue.


County Leitrim Community Forum was established as part of the county Development Board in 2000. It is the representative body for the community and voluntary sector in Leitrim.

County Leitrim Community Forum is recognised by both Leitrim County Council and Leitrim County Development Board as the representative body for the community and voluntary sector in Leitrim. Community representatives sit on bodies such as County Leitrim Partnership, Arigna LEADER, Leitrim County Council Strategic Policy Committees, Mental Health County Group and the Regional Drugs Task Force, to name but a few.

This certificate level course is designed to provide participants with knowledge and skills to respond positively to addiction related issues as they arise at work or in the community.

By providing participants with the level of knowledge and awareness required, the training will assist in prevention through education as this knowledge and learning will be taken back to each participant’s parent group. The aim of this course is also to provide participants with a broad overview of key theoretical frameworks in relation to substance misuse and dependence, and to enable them to develop basic helping and intervention skills. Guidance towards treatment would then follow.

The NUI Maynooth Certificate & Diploma courses are linked to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This means that students may acquire credits and apply for exemptions to other courses or degree programmes within the credit transfer system. The NUI Certificate courses carry up to 20 (ECTS).

It is expected that some Leitrim/Sligo participants of the certificate will progress onto further studies in this field as the North West Regional Drugs Task Force are currently funding a Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Studies course in Donegal.

Despite on going efforts by Government around the world to deal with problem drug use, no single universally acceptable effective response model has emerged. In Ireland, the Government's approach to tackling the drug problem has developed around the four pillars of supply, prevention (including education and awareness), treatment (including rehabilitation and risk reduction) and research.
This approach incorporates, more or less, the full range of activities which are the hallmarks of modern drugs strategies in other jurisdictions studied by the Group. Central to the Irish approach has been the bringing together of key agencies, in a planned and co ordinated manner, to develop a range of appropriate responses to tackle drug misuse, not just in relation to the supply of drugs but also in providing treatment and rehabilitation for those who are addicted, as well as developing appropriate preventative strategies. The current strategy has been further enhanced by the growing involvement of the community and voluntary sectors and by the ever increasing effectiveness of international co operation in areas such as supply control and research.
Internationally the World Health Organisation found that alcohol accounts for 9.2% of the overall burden of disease in developed countries. This places it third in the ranks for risk of disease: only tobacco smoking and high blood pressure pose greater risks. Alcohol misuse is a major public health issue and is causing considerable problems to people on the Island of Ireland, across Europe right down to local communities in the North West. The adverse effects of alcohol extend beyond physical health issues (e.g. cancer, heart disease, liver disorders) to mental, social and financial problems. Alcohol consumption and the frequency of heavy drinking are associated with an increased risk of accidents, road traffic accidents, intentional violence, violent crime, and criminal behaviour. This harms the individuals themselves, their partners, families, workplaces and communities.

The course has a huge emphasis on community action and preventative measures as well as awareness. It looks at “at Risk” groups and explores with students ideas such as the link between marginalisation and the prevalence of addiction. The ethos and focus of the course is based on reputable findings of what might be deemed best practice and efficacy.
The North West Regional Drug Task Force has been established to provide responses to illicit drug use and underage drinking problems throughout its region which comprises Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo and West Cavan. It is comprised of representatives of community and voluntary groups, governmental agencies, local authorities and others with an interest in or responsibility for these problem areas. The primary role is to ensure a coordinated response in addressing illicit drug use and underage drinking within the region and to develop appropriate responses to local needs.
The North West Regional Drugs Task Force is currently funding a Diploma in Drug and Alcohol Studies, validated by Limerick University and provided through Donegal VEC at Errigal College, Letterkenny from September through to May 2009. It is proposed to run the same course in Sligo/Leitrim from September 2009 to May 2010. The Certificate Course in Manorhamilton that the Task Force is funding with others forms an integral part of the overall education pillar of the North West Regional Drugs Task Force.
Regional Drugs Task Force Co ordinator, Sean O'Connor Tel 071 9852000
E Mail  drugtaskforce@mailb.hse.ie Website  www.nwdrugtaskforce.ie

North West Alcohol Forum Ltd (NWAF Ltd.) is a not for profit company based in the North West of Ireland. It is a community initiative that has been working actively to build capacity in the community to respond to alcohol misuse and related harm. It has representatives from organisations and individuals involved in community, education, health and justice,
commercial interests and sports and leisure. The NWAF LTD is committed to the building of a knowledge society in the NW region of Ireland. This objective is central to the North West Alcohol Action Plan 2005 2010 which was approved by The Minister for Health the DOHC and the HSE in 2005. This is a comprehensive action plan that outlines a number of ways to reduce harmful drinking in the North West.

The NWAF is always seeking to enhance the menu of academic programmes in the NW region to meet the need for evidence based training required to ensure appropriate responses to substance misuse locally. The development of a Certificate in Addiction Studies would not only provide for accessible in training and development for community, voluntary, statutory and non statutory agencies in Leitrim, but also complement the current range of academic and training programmes provided by the NWAF LTD and partners i.e. Donegal VEC, NWRDTF and HSE.

Therefore, the Forum is a proud sponsor of the Certificate in Addiction Studies.

For further information on The North West Alcohol Forum Ltd you can contact:

Telephone: 07491 0444 7/8/9
Fax: 07491 04432
E mail: sarahA.ward@hse.ie info@nwaf.ie



This Certificate in Addiction Studies course will commence on Wednesday 8th October and then every Tuesday night thereafter for one academic year. The course will be run in the Bee Park, Manorhamilton which has been chosen to encourage applicants from County Leitrim, and additional applicants from Sligo, South Donegal and West Cavan.

Further Information:
Tel: Course Coordinator, Jim Penders
County Leitrim Community Forum
086 1943546
jimpenders@eircom.net 

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