In most European countries, residential treatment programmes form an important element of the range of treatment and rehabilitation options for drug users. The aim of this paper is to provide a Europe-wide overview of the history and availability of residential drug treatment within wider national drug treatment systems.

Table of contents:
• Summary
• Introduction
• Historical perspective of residential treatment for drug users
• Extent and nature of residential treatment
• Treatment elements in residential programmes
• Residential treatment clients
• Organisational structure of residential treatment
• Conclusions