Is in-patient treatment justified for alcohol dependence?
Three lines of argument support the use of in-patient treatment for alcohol dependence. The first of these is that of natural justice. People ailing from their dependence on alcohol have a right to as full a range of treatment options as other people have for other disorders. Alcohol dependence is a disorder with a substantial morbidity and mortality. We should not forget that. Secondly, a variety of in-patient treatments have been shown to have a place in the treatment armamentarium. Some in-patient treatment is better than others, and treatment matching produces better results. Thirdly, the cost of in-patient treatment for alcohol dependence has repeatedly been shown to produce a worthwhile economic benefit.
Jurd
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Drug and Alcohol Services, Herbert Street Clinic, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, 2065, Australia.