[The qualified-detoxification-of-alcoholics procedure--in light of the development of guidelines for the treatment of substance-related disorders].

The qualified-detoxification-of-alcoholics procedure encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of ethanol intoxication, the states of complicated and uncomplicated withdrawal, addiction as the underlying disease and the consequences of heavy drinking. There is empirical evidence that treatment periods of 3 weeks for inpatients are efficient and cost-effective and there are indications that the shorter treatment periods enforced by health insurance companies may lead to rapid relapse and readmission and hence to longer total treatment times and higher costs.