ABSTRACT
Most alcoholics still either go untreated or are treated inadequately. One of the stock solutions offered is to increase resources. Education of therapists is needed to improve clinical acumen and achieve earlier diagnosis. Constraints can arise from the hierarchical nature of the organisation of a treatment facility, the differing professional orientations of the therapists within such facilities, and the narrow range of treatment modalities that are offered. Many treatment organisations over-emphasise the role of a particular facility — inpatient treatment for example — over all others, even though research might have shown that outpatient or day care facilities can be equally effective. Confusion is avoidable if enough care is taken to explain the nature of the illness, and the part the patient can and must play in promoting or hindering own recovery.
