Assessing people with alcohol problems

   Residential or day care?

For those people with a severe alcohol problem, a rehabilitation programme is likely to be required following detoxification. A day programme may be appropriate. There are, however, a number of people for whom residential care is the intervention of choice, for one or more of the following reasons:

• The severity of the clients’ problems may require an intensity of care which can only be provided in a residential setting
• The clients may need ‘time out’ from pressing concerns and responsibilities
• The clients may be able to address their problems only if removed from influences which pervade their local environment
• The clients may be homeless or insecurely accommodated.

Further advice may also be obtained from your local specialist alcohol service (see www.alcoholconcern.org.uk or call Drinkline on 0800 917 8282).

To about alcohol services section