Specialist treatments for alcohol problems are effective. A health technology assessment from NHS Quality Improvement Scotland concluded that specialist services are effective for relapse prevention if offering behavioural self control training, motivational enhancement therapy, family therapy/community reinforcement approach and/or coping/communication skills training (see Annex 8). General Practitioners are able to manage more patients with alcohol related problems if they perceive that they are working in a supportive environment which includes access to help with difficult patients
