The Overall Aims of CCRAS for the Canal Communities Area are that:
- Fewer people begin using drugs/alcohol in a way that leads to harm for themselves or others
- More people who have been using drugs/alcohol in a harmful way stop doing so, either by ceasing to use drugs/alcohol or by decreasing their use
- People who continue to use drugs and alcohol cause less harm to themselves, their families and others through that use
- The use of drugs and alcohol causes less harm to communities in general
- People who used to use drugs/alcohol but no longer do so maintain their ‘drug-free’, abstinent lifestyles into the future
- Current and former misusers of substances, and community members in general, have a very influential role in the planning, operation and evaluation of services related to harmful drug/alcohol use.
These aims are consistent with Goals 1, 2 and 4 of the national drug and alcohol strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, A Health Led Response to drug and Alcohol Use in Ireland, 2017 – 2025.
Aim of the CCRAS Strategic Plan 2020-2022
In 2020 to 2022, and in order to achieve its overall aims, CCRAS will work closely with the Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force to help it attain its overall objective, which is to “promote collaboration and partnership, and address cross-cutting issues” in pursuit of the five goals of “Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery”[1] by:
- helping to develop collaboration between organisations;
- providing support to the Task Force, communities, and drug and alcohol services in the areas of poly-drug and alcohol use, harm reduction & health promotion, education & prevention, drug-free supports, community development, and safety;
- promoting and assisting the sharing of relevant information and best practice between organisations;
- training service providers;
- complementing other services;
- participating actively in Task Force sub-groups, providing chairpersons and logistical support for these groups where necessary/appropriate.
[1] Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force (2018) Strategic Plan 2018-2021, (Dublin: Canal Communities Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force) page 11.