Drug and alcohol detoxification doesn't need to become a distressing process, as it can be made more manageable and made completely safe when the individual detoxing is in the hands of detox professionals. People who are detoxing may well not recognize that apart from the withdrawal and other effects experienced during detoxification, their health and wellbeing may very well be in danger. Specific substances might cause seizures and other severe symptoms that may be deadly during detox. Alcohol is an example of this, and anyone who is detoxing from alcohol needs to be treated inside a professional setting like a detox facility or alcohol and drug treatment program to prevent any severe symptoms. Certain medical drugs also cause such symptoms, and it is never safe to abruptly cease using any type of medical drug unless inside an alcohol and drug detox center or pharmaceutical. Problems can arise with other drugs as well, if someone's health has been compromised because of substance abuse, as is generally the case. Specialists will assess an individual's drug abuse history whenever they arrive for alcohol and drug detox, and see if any specific intervention is necessary to be sure that alcohol and drug detoxification is a safe and smooth process.