Alcohol and drug detox doesn't have to be a distressing process, as it can be managed and made completely safe when the individual detoxing is in the hands of detox professionals. Those who are detoxing may not know that in addition to the withdrawal and other effects one experiences during detoxification, their overall health may very well be at an increased risk. Specific substances can cause seizures as well as other severe symptoms which may be life-threatening during detoxification. Alcohol is an example of this, and anyone that is detoxing from alcohol should be treated within a specialist setting like a detoxification center or drug rehabilitation program in order to avoid any serious symptoms. Specific pharmaceutical drugs also result in such symptoms, and in fact it is never safe to abruptly cease using almost any medical drug unless in a drug and alcohol detox facility or pharmaceutical. Problems can arise with other drugs also, if an individual's health has been compromised as a result of substance abuse, as is usually the case. Specialists will assess a person's drug abuse history after they arrive for drug and alcohol detox, and see if any specific intervention is needed to be sure that drug and alcohol detoxification is a smooth and safe process.