ON THE WAY FROM LONG-TERM INPATIENT TREAT MENT FOR ALCOHOLICS TO OUTPATIENT TREATMENT IN THE COMMUNITY

The reform of care systems for the treatment of alcoholics remains far behind reforms in general psychiatric care. Community based care, pri ority of outpatient over inpatient care and integration in general med icine do not have such an importance in the treatment of alcoholics as these guidelines of modern health care should deserve. The expansion of specialized care, for decades the answer to increasing alcohol cons umption and alcohol-related problems, is restricted by current economy . If in future - also for economical reasons - more attention will be given to the integration in general medicine, a highly specialized and structured care system for a small group of severely disabled alcohol ics is still needed. But also for this group priority must be given to community based care. With the transition from hospital based to mode rn community care there probably will arise problems of service delive ry like they are known from general psychiatric community care.