Alcohol and drug detox does not have to be an uncomfortable process, as it can be managed and made entirely safe when the individual detoxing is within reach of detoxification specialists. People who are detoxing may well not realize that besides the withdrawal and other effects experienced during detox, their overall health might actually be at risk. Particular substances might cause seizures and other serious symptoms which may be life-threatening during detoxification. Alcohol is a good example of this, and anyone who is detoxing from alcohol has to be treated in a professional setting like a detox center or drug treatment facility to avoid any serious symptoms. Specific pharmaceutical drugs also trigger such symptoms, and in fact it is never safe to abruptly stop using any sort of pharmaceutical drug unless within an alcohol and drug detox facility or medical. Complications can come up with other drugs as well, if someone's health has become compromised as a result of addiction, as is usually the case. Specialists will analyse an individual's substance abuse history when they arrive for drug and alcohol detoxification, and find out if any specific intervention is needed to be sure that drug and alcohol detoxification can be a smooth and safe process.