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This Wednesday (26-11-97) at 2.00pm Belfast's first drug information 'shop' will open at 107 Upper North Street.
Called Insight, the project is funded by Making Belfast Work and run by Carlise House, a addiction rehabilitation initiative of the Presbyterian Church.
Dr Anne Watts, the director of Carlisle House had the idea for the project. "We have found an increasing number of people coming to Carlisle House for information about alcohol and drug abuse. In order to make help more accessible the idea for Insight came about. This is a place where people can come in, pick up information without having to ask for it, or if they want, there will be trained staff to help answer their questions."
Insight is a non threatening environment and with its access straight from the street it provides an easy way for people to get information that they are both reluctant to go to more institutionalised buildings for or to ask about. It will be open from 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday and 2pm-8pm on Thursday for the public. During the morning it will be made available to school groups who can use the centre to gather information for class projects and general information.
Initially the project has been established for three years and the funding of £80,000 has been provided by Making Belfast Work.
"Insight is not here to tell people what to do, but to give them information to allow them to make their own judgments," added Dr Watts. "Its main role is to be preventive and informational but with trained counsellors on the staff it can also be the first step in pointing individuals and concerned families in the appropriate direction for help concerning drug and alcohol related matters. Hopefully it will mean that people with problems will seek help earlier."
Carlise House was opened 5 years ago as a residential rehabilitation unit for people with alcohol and drug related problems. In that time over 300 people have attended the 8 week residential courses run at the centre.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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