ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by general points about the nature of work with people who experience drug or alcohol-related problems. The theory which a counsellor holds about the nature and cause of the problem will determine the nature of the intervention. The functions of Health Authorities have been split, and Health Authorities/Commissions are now only responsible for purchasing health care. The government also decided to take a public health perspective on health problems, and issued Health of the Nation, a document that set targets for preventative and harm-reducing behaviours for the whole population over the 1990s. These targets were grouped into five key areas: heart disease, cancer, accidents, mental health, and sexual health. Drug and alcohol consumption often brings people into conflict with the law. It can lead the criminal justice system to identify individuals as being in need of help, and so compel them to accept 'treatment'.
