The project OLDIM (older drug addicts in motivational process) is a further development of the preceding EU project "OLDI" (older drug addicts in progress 2013 - 2015). In the context of advice and/or treatment, the target group consists of older drug addicts who belong to a multiply disadvantaged group of people and therefore to a fringe group within society because of their year-long addiction. An active lifestyle is often faced with massive restrictions because of health and mental problems, limited or lacking social contacts outside the drug scene, debts, long-term unemployment, cognitive losses in performance, and previous criminal experience. As part of the "OLDI" project, criteria and methods of approach were developed taking into consideration age-related requirements in order to open up ways out of social and personal isolation for addicts. Experiences showed that another significant activation factor has to be considered as well, namely the necessity for motivation which has to be present as a basis for change processes and participation in society, but which is lacking or only exists in a very rudimentary form in the case of a large number of those belonging to the target group. The intention of the OLDIM project is to establish techniques and outline conditions for promoting motivation among older drug addicts and provide training personnel with greater skills for the actual implementation of specific motivation measures.Eighteen key persons from 5 participating partner countries (Germany, Slovakia, Denmark, Croatia and Austria) are involved who have had years of experience in working with addicts – and increasingly with older addicts of legal and illegal drugs, as well as in motivational counselling and treatment methods, in theoretical and practical experience and know-how in sports as a motivational factor, and in expertise with a scientific background.As part of project meetings, an exchange of good practice is to be achieved in each partner country during the two-year project running time. Taking into account the competences and experience background of each partner, specific aspects will also be processed individually which are constructive with view to the achievement of objectives, e.g. survey of contributors about motivational treatment strategies. The results will be analysed mutually during partner meetings.Further relevant activities can be found in cross-functional exchange with the school system in each partner country, particularly with special schools. In this respect, it is important to determine whether special experience or motivation-promoting techniques can also be applied to the target group of the project.A symposium on the topic of “Promoting motivation” should offer the possibility of increasing competence for those directly and indirectly involved in the project, as should a dialogue-based exchange of experience and a workshop where motivation-promoting measures and their outline conditions will be presented. Participants in the workshop will be recruited from project participants and – as mulitipliers – two further contributors each from the partner organizations. In combination with the results of the preceding “OLDI” project, the partners of this project are expecting for their target group of older drug addicts an activation and strengthening of their personality, steps away from their isolation and lack of prospects, towards participation in social processes.A long-term effect is expected as part of counselling and/or treatment of the addicts as a result of a consistent and ongoing implementation of the results as well as highly varied dissemination activities.
The OLDIM project pursued the objectives, methods and framework conditions to promote the motivation of addicts, in particular to also identify older addicts, raise awareness for the topic among training staff and achieve a widening of their interactive skills through the actual implementation of specific motivation measures. The project achieved the expected and desired results with regard to the targeted group of older drug addicts. Among others, methods to promote motivation were determined and put together in a “methods catalogue”. It was also possible to achieve the objectives with regard to the training personnel. Awareness for the necessity of age-related needs and requirements, as well as for motivation-promoting measures, was increased among employees, and their behavioural repertoire was also broadened. There was a distinct further development in the competence of training personnel. Supplementary to the preceding OLDI project, it was possible with the OLDIM project to bridge the gap between age-related measures and methods for motivation development/promotion as a basis for new and sustained learning experiences. With the results from OLDIM, the project partners aim to make a contribution to supporting disadvantaged people and in this way provide the opportunity for more equality and inclusion. Individuals and institutions involved in the project benefitted greatly from the cross-frontier cooperation, not only on a professional but also an intercultural and personal level. Tolerance, respect and mutual enrichment through diversity of ideas, exchange of experience and learning from one another were repeatedly expressed clearly by everyone involved.