Problem: Article: Policy briefs typically aren't read by experts in the field. Rather, your audience is likely people with a higher-than-average understanding of the topic who want to understand the effects a particular policy might have.  For example, if you're writing for a nonprofit organization, your audience may be supporters of your organization. On the other hand, your audience may be government officials who are potentially antagonistic to your message. If you're writing your policy brief for a class assignment, ask your instructor to identify the audience for the policy brief, if this information isn't included in the information about the assignment. As with any research paper, your thesis statement will organize your writing. As short as a policy brief is, every paragraph should relate in some way to your thesis statement.  Because of their nature, policy briefs typically don't include a lot of background information. Your thesis statement should be related to a present issue or situation. For advocacy briefs, your thesis statement will present a way to resolve the issue the brief discusses. The thesis statement for an objective brief will present the issue itself and describe the motivation for differing approaches to addressing the issue. Policy briefs are well-researched and well planned out. Every fact you mention in your brief should be supported by a reliable reference.  Use reliable sources, preferably objective academic studies or government data and statistics. These will make your policy brief more reliable. Make sure the data and information you find is directly related to your thesis. With only a few hundred words, you don't have a lot of space to go into detail about studies in the field. A draft of your policy brief gives you something to work with in later stages of the writing process. At this point, don't worry too much about structure. You'll fit your draft into a neat frame later. Don't worry about length at this stage either. Write what you think you need to include. It's easier to remove pieces than it is to add. Once you have your working draft, go through it and make a note of the main point of each paragraph. Use your notes to create an outline, adjusting focus where necessary. With an outline, it will be easier to identify paragraphs that don't fit with the rest of your brief.  Take a look at your reverse outline and move paragraphs around as necessary. Your narrative should flow logically from one paragraph to the next. Use transitions where necessary to make your brief a cohesive unit, rather than simply a collection of paragraphs or sections.
Summary: Identify your audience. Create a working thesis statement. Find the information you need to support your thesis. Write a working draft based on your thesis statement. Use a reverse outline to focus your draft.

Problem: Article: Detoxification (also called detox) will help you manage your withdrawal symptoms until your body becomes used to functioning without alcohol or drugs. A detox program is typically held in a medical facility and will incorporate close monitoring, medical support, and may include prescription medications.  Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) or clonazepam (Klonopin) are often prescribed during detox to reduce the symptoms of withdrawal. You may also be prescribed Naltrexone (Trexan, Revia, or Vivitrol). This medication decreases your cravings for alcohol by blocking your body's euphoric response to alcohol consumption.  Similar to Naltrexone, Disulfiram (Antabuse) reduces cravings by actually producing a negative reaction to drinking. Medications like Acamprosate (Campral) can help reduce future cravings in people who have already stopped drinking but are at risk of a relapse. Find a detox program near you by searching online or checking your local phone book. You can ask your primary care physician to recommend a good detox program near you. If you don't have a doctor, you can call or visit your local hospital and ask someone there for information on detox programs near you. Psychotherapy may be recommended in conjunction with detox or instead of it. Only a qualified medical expert can properly evaluate your level of alcohol abuse and determine the best course of action for you. However, psychotherapy has very high results because it gives you the tools to continue living a sober, healthy lifestyle after you've completed rehab/detox treatment.  One-on-one or group substance abuse counseling - focuses on short-term behavioral goals to help discontinue alcohol use altogether. Cognitive-behavioral therapy - teaches you how to recognize what factors tend to precede and follow instances of alcohol use to avoid or better cope with those factors. Motivational enhancement therapy - encourages you to want to participate in therapy by setting goals, outlining the risks of not staying in therapy, and showing you the rewards for success. Stimulus control therapy - teaches you to avoid situations, activities, and people associated with alcohol use and replace those factors with more positive, healthy activities/situations. Urge control therapy - helps you change the patterns of behavior that might otherwise lead to relapsing alcohol use. Relapse prevention therapy - teaches you methods for recognizing problem behaviors and correcting/amending those problems. Social control therapy - involves family members to help prevent them from enabling alcohol use/abuse. You can find psychotherapy options in your area by searching online, checking the phone book, or asking your primary care physician for a recommendation/referral. There is a high incidence of relapse among recovering alcoholics. This is not a sign of weakness or failure; rather, it's simply a fact of addiction, which is a medical ailment. If you are at risk of relapsing, it's important that you take steps to build a support network and avoid situations involving alcohol in the future.  Approximately 70% of people with alcoholism who complete treatment are able to decrease or eliminate their alcohol consumption and improve their health within six months. Most people with moderate to severe alcohol-use disorder who complete treatment end up having one or more relapse during the first 12 months after treatment. Recognize that alcoholism is a life-long disorder that requires continued effort and support. Having a relapse does not mean that you've failed or that you're weak, but it's important to re-commit to sobriety after you relapse. Be patient and dedicated, and seek support from family and friends.
Summary:
Enter a detoxification program. Consider psychotherapeutic treatments. Know the risk of relapse.