When you should refer a person

You should refer the person if they are drinking large amounts of alcohol or have developed a severe withdrawal reaction, or when there is a serious medical condition like diabetes mellitus, or chronic liver disease. If a person has a severe mental illness (SMI, see also Study Session 10) in addition to their alcohol use, then they should be referred to the nearest mental health service. When the person is taking multiple substances, in addition to alcohol, they should be referred to the nearest substance treatment centre or mental health centre with an in-patient service.