National policy on the treatment of alcohol abuse 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 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. A number of boards have made local arrangements to enable access to specialist in-patient treatment in the small number of cases where the need arises.