<p>Since 1972, the Nelson Clinic at St James' Hospital, Portsmouth, has provided a six week residential treatment course for people with chronic alcohol problems; detoxification is provided as part of the course, but traditionally people requiring just detoxification were admitted to the acute psychiatric wards in the hospital. This practice was never [Illegible Word] to be ideal as patients admitted were not mentally ill and were fed, housed and withdrawn from alcohol on mild tranquillisers and discharged.</p>