Sobering Up Services
The main function of the sobering-up centres is to care for persons found intoxicated in public until they are sober. Most clients are brought to the centre by police, although other referrals are taken. Most admissions take place in the evening and it is anticipated that clients will shower and have an overnight sleep. Their clothes are laundered during this time and in the morning they are provided with breakfast prior to being discharged. Sobering-up centres are designed as a minimalist welfare approach with harm reduction rather than treatment or rehabilitation aims. Counselling is not provided in sobering-up centres but referral and follow-up is provided where requested by the client. The service is non-medical in nature. If physical complications occur while a client is sobering up, immediate referral is made to the nearest hospital.
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