Ballyfermot STAR
Provides non-judgemental support, guidance and
education to drug users, and their families and
the community, enabling them to cope with and
overcome the effects of drug use in their everyday lives.
Drug use affects not just the drug user but the
whole family including parents.
We recognise how drug use affects entire families and
offer support to parents whose children take drugs as
well as supporting drug users to make the journey to
recovery.
Family members are encouraged to examine their own
needs rather than the needs of their child, sibling
or parent, and to see themselves as individuals
outside of drug use. Based on a philosophy of
trust and understanding, we use strenght-based
approach and services are orientated to enhance the service
user's self-esteem and ability to solve their own problems.
Origins
After the publication of two ministerial reports
on drug use in 1996 and 1997, a number of areas were
identified as having a major herion problem. Ballyfermot
was one of the areas in the greater Dublin area
that was assessed as having a significant drug problem.
Ballyfermot Local Drugs Taskforce initiated a number
of consultation meetings in the public library
in 1997. These meetings were to form the basis of the first
Ballyfermot Drugs Taskforce Plan. From these beginnings
a number of working groups were established.
Ballyfermot STAR as an organisation grew out of this process.
A number of local people expressed an interest in developing
an initiative in response to herion and its impact on individuals,
families and their community. A number of sub-groups of the Task Force
came together in January 1998 to look at the way forward in relation
to what was seen as a central objective of requiring a premises and
delivering services to drug users and their families.
