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Alcohol detoxification: a postal survey

Fleming Nuffield Unit for Children and Young People, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 3AE

Keith Gaskell, Consultant in General Psychiatry

Ridge Lea Hospital, Quernmore Road, Lancaster LA1 3JR

Paul McCardle, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Fleming Nuffield Unit for Children and Young People

^* Correspondence

A survey of 92 in-patient alcohol detoxification services revealed that they varied in their goals, organisation and treatment approaches. We argue that detoxification units and alcohol treatment units should increasingly take on the assessment and treatment role hitherto played by general psychiatric wards in the management of the problem drinker. However, we also suggest that the general psychiatric wards should work closely with community alcohol teams and more specialist services in order to provide a comprehensive service for these patients.