Drug detox and alcohol detoxification is a process that anyone who has been addicted and dependent to alcohol and drugs will need to go through once they stop using these substances abruptly. People who abuse alcohol and drugs can't stop or don't want to stop abusing drug or alcohol simply because they know they've got to detox, which is often extremely uncomfortable and even painful sometimes. Thankfully, treatment professionals in drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs are trained and proficient in the drug detox and alcohol detoxification process and how to make this process as smooth and safe as is possible. It is possible to avoid certain withdrawal symptoms, make sure they are more manageable, or otherwise make sure they are bearable while they last which is typically only a few days. Those who proceed through drug detox or alcohol detoxification must not stop at this point, and leaving rehabilitation after only achieving this makes all progress this far mute. This is due to the fact that those who only detox and don't receive any further treatment do as well as someone who never participated in any rehab to start with. Detox isn't treatment, so individuals who undergo drug detox and alcohol detoxification should invest in a thorough plan for treatment which covers all aspects of their drug or alcohol addiction.