Family Focus is an interactive six-session programme that promotes the role of the parent in educating their young people about the risks associated with substance use, in an effort to reduce the demand for drugs.
Welcome to Community Awareness of Drugs
If you’re not talking to your young person about drugs - who is?
About Us
CAD is a registered charity that provides comprehensive drug education services for parents and carers with over thirty five years experience. Learn more about our organisation’s mission, values and staff.
Key Services
CAD’s key services engage both parents and community workers. They respond to needs and provide opportunities for participants to update drug related information. Learn more about our provision of services.
Testimonies
Our reputation is based on over thirty years experience working in the community and voluntary sector and in partnership with Local and Regional Drug Task Forces. Learn what our partners have to say about our work.
Services We Provide
We provide education and training to prevent substance misuse related problems.
Tailored Training
CAD designs and delivers tailored training workshops for agencies and community workers in order to enhance awareness, learn how to motivate change and where to go for help.
NOTE: CAD are no longer administering the HSE Suicide Prevention Training in CHO 6 & 7. YourMentalHealth.ie will provide revised instructions in due course.
A privilege to have been involved
It has been a privilege to have been involved in the valuable work of CAD since the 1980’s. I have admired and been personally inspired by the enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism of all the CAD team with whom I have worked.
Professor Des Corrigan
Government and EU Drug Advisor
The leaflets and books were so educational and invaluable for a parent.
The programme was excellent. The Tutor was a brilliant teacher, made the class enjoyable and I personally got so much from the course. The leaflets and books were so educational and invaluable for a parent. I would recommend this course without a doubt, one of the best delivered courses I’ve been a part of.
Past Participant
It was extremely informative and very well presented
This was my first course on drugs. It was extremely informative and very well presented. I feel quite confident that I could certainly help with someone and point them in the right direction.
Community Worker
I feel I am better equipped to assist a client with advice
I feel I am better equipped to assist a client with advice and support agencies.
Community Worker
I feel more confident about talking to my kids about drugs
I feel better informed than I was 6 weeks ago. I feel more confident about talking to my kids about drugs. I feel assured that there’s help out there if it’s needed. Change? Nothing. The programme was very interesting, a bit scary but overall I’m delighted I got a chance to participate.
Past Participant
We have found CAD training to be an invaluable source of knowledge
Community Awareness of Drugs has provided our Volunteer Drugs and Alcohol Training for the past (three) years. As a frontline service, we have found this training to be an invaluable source of knowledge for new team members regarding the types of drugs, services and treatments available in Ireland. The training has a strong practical element enabling participants to apply the information to everyday situations that can arise as part of their work. The trainers were very knowledgeable, clear in their delivery and created an enjoyable and participative group atmosphere.
Tara Brown
Volunteer Coordinator, Ruhama
Very informative with everyday information
Very informative with everyday information, easy to understand, easy to pass on to others. Instructor was excellent, she spoke to us and not at us, and always felt I could give my opinion.
Past Participant
Drug and alcohol awareness is very important to our students
The drug and alcohol awareness is very important as our students are at the stage where they are just getting their first taste of independence and are more often in situations where they may come into contact with alcohol or drugs. By learning that it’s ok to say no and not feeling pressured into situations is of huge importance to them and by discussing these things it takes away peoples inbuilt fears of being in these situations.
Eithne Power
Current Education Support Worker, St. John of God STEP Programme
Congratulations on a comprehensive document
I congratulate CAD’s team, the North Dublin City and County Regional Drug Task Force and the Citizen Information Board for their hard work and commitment in creating this comprehensive document…I applaud your initiative to produce this Guide and wish you every success with this manual and any subsequent training that may follow.
Alex White TD
Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Primary Care
Greatly appreciate the contribution made by CAD
I am very aware and greatly appreciate the contribution made by CAD over the past 25 years in providing drug education programmes for parents and for those active in the voluntary and community sector.
John Curran TD
former Minister of State with Responsibility for National Drug Strategy Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
I have great admiration for the course trainers
I would have great admiration for the course trainers for the interesting and articulate way they put the course together.
Community Worker
Insightful and educational talk to parents
Bernie presented an insightful and educational talk to parents. We learned a lot and would recommend her talk wholeheartedly. Every parent needs awareness on how to help our children. CAD provides that throughout the country.
Doreen
Parents Association
I have valued CAD’s emphasis on working with parents as a prevention approach
I have, for years, valued CAD’s emphasis on working with parents as a prevention approach and the importance of that was re-emphasised when the NACD published its report on early school-leavers showing that parental involvement and concern along with information on substance use for parents were pre-eminent protective factors in drug prevention efforts.
Professor Des Corrigan
Government and EU Drug Advisor