Hospital inpatient drug or alcohol treatment is carried out in a hospital or similar setting and is overseen by doctors and other medical staff. Hospital inpatient treatment is often necessary in the beginning stages of abstinence when the person may encounter the onset of life threatening withdrawal symptoms, which is sometimes the case when quitting alcohol as well as a category of prescription drugs known as benzodiazepines which should be monitored very carefully by medical professionals to minimize ant dangerous health complications. Hospital inpatient treatment is also administered to individuals who choose to undergo medication assisted withdrawal, as is the case with opiate addicted individuals who wish to use this type of detox technique to avoid the harsh withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin or other opiate withdrawal. This type of opiate detox is not treatment in itself however, and these people will need further counseling and therapy to completely recover from addiction.