[Treatment of drug dependent patients in a psychiatric department].

The authors report their three years experience with treating addicts (both alcoholics and users of prescription and illegal drugs) in a specialized unit employing a low-threshold admission policy. Difficulties as well as advantages of the concept are discussed. For the common treatment of patients addicted to different groups of substances on the same ward to be successful certain prerequisites probably have to be met: A clearly structured daily routine respectively therapy-program and close professional cooperation within a multifunctional therapeutic team harbouring a basic attitude of acceptance towards their patients.