COMMUNITY PRISON LINKS: CASE STUDY

Community Prison Links is a component of Frontline Make Change’s free and confidential addiction support service.  Our team includes a dedicated Community Prison Links (CPL) worker who works with men and women in prison to provide support to them upon release.  Most referrals for this service come from education within prisons, probation services, addiction counsellors, and criminal justice services.

CYCLE OF IMPRISONMENT

David* sought support from Frontline’s CPL, Jason Campbell, while on remand in prison. He experienced a cycle of recurrent imprisonment due to cocaine abuse and wanted to make changes in his life. He had reached a point where he took deliberate steps to seek help, implement positive changes in his life, and address the underlying causes of his problems.

David’s addiction had not only led to imprisonment, it has also badly affected his family relationships, leaving him estranged from them, which had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

When Frontline’s CPL worker, Jason, first met David in prison, he conducted a needs assessment. This identified several key issues: cocaine addiction, pending court cases, mental health and wellbeing concerns, and familial conflict. Using this information, he developed a client-centred care plan with several objectives:

• Contact David’s solicitor to inform them of David’s treatment plan and to apply for bail.
• Make enquiries into residential drug treatment programs on behalf of David.
• Provide a structured and routine environment focused on addiction upon release, pending residential treatment.
• Conduct weekly one-on-one key working sessions with a focus on cocaine relapse prevention.
• Offer support for mental health and well-being.

ONGOING SUPPORT

After going through this process, David’s bail application was successful. Since then, he has been meeting with Jason once a week since his release from prison a in order to continue working on his treatment plan. The treatment plan involves residential treatment, which he is currently undertaking, and this year he has made huge strides by rebuilding relationships with his family, fully committing to treatment and attending court to face his current charges.

If you or a family member need support with drug or alcohol issues, you can contact us here or phone 01 4736502 to make an appointment. We have locations in Bluebell, Inchicore and the North Inner City of Dublin and we are open Monday – Friday.

Read more client case studies here.

*The client’s name has been changed to protect their anonymity.