[General practitioner plays a central role as case manager. Diagnosis and therapy of alcoholism]

The family doctor plays an important role in the treatment of alcoholism, especially in the initial contact and motivation phases, but also in the aftercare phase following outpatient or inpatient detoxification and rehabilitation. The central tasks are the diagnosis of alcohol dependency and possible neurological and somatic sequelae, mediation, information about consequences and motivation to undergo further treatment. After successful treatment (abstinence)--prevention of relapse, where necessary using so-called anti-craving drugs such as acamprostate.