The treatment of alcoholism still presents great problems because a number of factors have to be taken into consideration. Tranquilizers and chlormethiazol are only justified in the detoxication phase. For the subsequent after-care, depot neuroleptics are recommended because of the uniformly high plasma level. We gave clopentixol decanoate - 100 mg i.m. - in two-weekly intervals. The symptoms caused by ethylism were adequately overcome without side effects. Clopentixol decanoate creates the basis for successful psychotherapy: only when the mood situation is compensated and the internal unrest overcome can verbal therapy be successful.