RECOVERING drug users have transformed a patch of wasteland on the Southside into allotments where they will grow plants and vegetables as part of a wider programme that aims to stabilise their substance misuse.
The St Dominic’s Community Response Project in Tallaght works with recovering drug addicts who are attempting to get their drug use under control.
Jamie Doran, who is a project worker with St Dominic’s, explained that in October 2010 South Dublin County Council gave the project a parcel of land, of about one eighth of an acre that recipients could use as allotments.
He said that 12 Community Employment workers are currently undergoing a year-long drugs stabilisation project. He noted that the workers have been working tirelessly since April last year on clearing the land of any waste and making it suitable for growing plants and vegetables.
“We run an addiction programme for people who want to stabilise their drug use,
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“The course is educational and therapeutic. It is a year-long programme.
“We didn’t start working on the allotments until April 2011. When we got the allotment space there were weeds and rubble everywhere and it was fairly run down.
“A lot of manual work went into it before we could even prepare the soil for planting.
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Mr Doran said that the programme generally runs discussion groups focusing on what kind of support drug users need. They also run optional modules such as anger management, relapse prevention, managing change, physical exercise and drama classes.
He believes participants will greatly benefit from the allotments by nurturing plants and vegetables and by interacting with local people.
“I think the clients will get some personal growth out of the project by sowing seeds in the ground and seeing a plant grow and nurturing it and caring for it. Even the sense of trust they gain by communicating and interacting with members of the community up there will help them on their way to recovery.
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The St Dominic’s Community Response Project has a drop in centre that is open each Friday from 11am to 1.30pm. The centre also offers crisis intervention and counselling on a one-to-one basis and is available to family members affected by drug use.
The centre also offers a support service for those affected by cocaine misuse. Anyone can contact the centre by calling 01-4620624.