Alcohol and drug detox doesn't need to be a distressing process, as it can be managed and made completely safe when the individual detoxing is in the hands of detoxification professionals. Individuals who are detoxing might not understand that in addition to the withdrawal and other effects one experiences during detoxification, their overall health may very well be at an increased risk. Certain substances can cause seizures and also other serious symptoms that may be life-threatening during detox. Alcohol is a good example of this, and anyone who is detoxing from alcohol has to be treated within a professional setting such as a detox center or drug treatment center to prevent any serious symptoms. Specific medical drugs also result in such symptoms, and in fact it is never safe to abruptly quit using almost any pharmaceutical drug unless in a drug and alcohol detox center or medical. Complications can come up with other drugs as well, if one's health has become compromised as a consequence of addiction, as is often the case. Specialists will assess a person's substance abuse history when they arrive for drug and alcohol detox, and determine if any particular intervention should be used and ensure that drug and alcohol detox is a safe and smooth process.