Brendan McGahon
Question:41 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the lack of in-patient facilities for people with alcohol problems. [9897/01]
Written Answers. - Alcohol Abuse.
National policy on the treatment of alcohol abuse, as set out in Planning for the Future, stipulates that the emphasis in the management of alcohol-related problems should be on community-based intervention rather than on specialist in-patient treatment. Health boards already provide and continue to develop a range of comprehensive community-based support services appropriate to the needs of persons affected and afflicted by alcohol abuse. These services include family support and community, medical and social services in the management of the problem. Health boards are also considering ways in which services provided by voluntary and-or private facilities might integrate with the health boards' services and a number of the boards have made local arrangements to enable access to specialist in-patient treatment in the small number of cases where the need arises.
The main therapeutic tools in the treatment of alcohol dependence are psychotherapy, counselling, family and marital therapy, either individually or in group settings. Therapy may take place in a residential or a day setting. As alcohol related problems occur, in many instances, in local and family settings, the community-based response can be direct and early, thereby reducing the associated levels of physical, psychological and social problems.