Models of Care

Alcohol services are provided along a spectrum from simple, brief interventions all the way through to intensive specialist treatment services. Examples of these services can be found in the community, primary care, and specialist care settings. Availability and provision of these services are variable, and in some cases, not well integrated. Therefore, access to alcohol services and the extent to which they meet the needs of people with alcohol problems vary across Australia. 

It can be useful to visualise this spectrum of responses to alcohol problems in the following way.

FIGURE 5.1: A spectrum of responses to alcohol problems

Source: Raistrick et al., 2006. Review of the effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems. London: National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse.