ANYONE with a personal or professional interest in the area of addiction is invited to complete a Community Addiction Studies Course in Athy over the next six months.
The course is designed to enable people to become more effective when they encounter drug/alcohol abuse or addiction.
The course will start in early October and an information evening will be held on Tuesday next 25 September at 7pm in the County Kildare Leader Partnership Office, Athy (former CDP) at Woodstock Street.
The course will cover such topics as pharmaceutical information on drugs and their effects, the process of addiction, how addiction affects individuals, families and communities, how individuals and communities can respond. There will also be field visits to drugs services, as well as individual course work.
The course is being run by Urrús, which is a Ballymun based youth action project, in conjunction with County Kildare leader Partnership, the local regional drugs task force and RAPID Athy.
County Kildare Leader Partnership Co-ordinator Noreen Ardill explained who they are hoping to attract to the course. “The course is for anyone with who has been affected by addiction, either in their own family or anyone who has a professional interest in addiction through their work such as HSE workers, teachers or youth club leaders. The course would also be ideal for parents who wish to be aware of the signs and effects of addiction.”
Ms Ardill said while there will be a small fee to do the course this will not be a barrier to anyone intending to do the course. “The fee hasn’t been determined yet but it will be minimal. No one will be be turned away and we will talk to anyone who may not have the means to pay the entire fee. We intend for this course to be as open to all as it can be.”
The course will be a FETAC Level Five course and assignments will be a key feature of the course. Application forms and Information sheets will be available at the information night and applicants will be requested to take part in an interview before being selected for a place.
