It should not be assumed that changes to alcohol laws would mean an end to alcohol addiction, National Addiction Centre deputy director (liaison) Dr Daryle Deering said.
While it was important attention was paid to the 25% of the population which was drinking too much and reducing their drinking to less harmful levels "we musn't forget people with addiction".
The "5+" approach to liquor law reform being supported by many health professionals, includes improving access to treatment for heavy drinkers.
Dr Deering, who was in Dunedin to address about 150 mental health nurses at an Otago and Southland conference yesterday, said there was a growing awareness of the links between substance use, mental health and physical health.
Dr Deering has worked extensively in the area of alcohol and drug treatment and mental health involving youth and families.
She said nurses had an enormous role to play in future, working with general practitioners, families and peers, helping to break down the silo approach to people where mental health, alcohol and drug issues and physical health were regarded separately.
Sometimes, people underwent a lot of assessment being referred from one service to another without their needs being addressed.
Dr Deering's research projects include being co-investigator of the New Zealand Treatment of Alcohol and Mood study, a randomised controlled pharmacotherapy trial which is looking at the use of naltrexone in the treatment of those with alcohol dependence and depression.
Naltrexone is a medicine which can reduce craving for alcohol.
Otago District Health Board's mental health and intellectual disability service nurse director and conference convener, Heather Casey, said the day was an opportunity for nurses to consider the expansion of the traditional boundaries of mental health nursing.
Presentations covered education, clinical practice and innovation.
Those sharing experiences about practice development included Tina Simmonds, on the challenges of setting up a community mental health service in rural Otago, and psycho-geriatric mental health nurse practitioner Liz Langer.
