Drug detox and alcohol detoxification is often a process that someone who has been dependent and addicted to alcohol and drugs must go through when they stop using these substances suddenly. Folks who abuse drugs and alcohol can't stop or don't want to stop using these substances simply because they know they've got to detox, which may be extremely uncomfortable as well as painful in some instances. Thankfully, treatment professionals in drug and alcohol rehab programs are skilled and experienced in the drug detox and alcohol detoxification process and the ways to make this process as smooth and safe as possible. It is possible to avert certain withdrawal symptoms, make sure they are more manageable, or otherwise make them bearable while they last which is typically only a matter of days. People who proceed through drug detox or alcohol detoxification should never stop at this point, and departing treatment after only achieving this makes all progress to this point mute. This is due to the fact that those who only detox and receive no further rehabilitation do as well as someone who never received any rehab in the first place. Detoxification isn't treatment, so folks who undergo drug detox and alcohol detoxification should invest in an extensive treatment plan addresses every aspect of their addiction.