Hospital inpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation is done in a hospital or similar setting and is supervised by doctors and other medical staff. Hospital inpatient treatment is sometimes necessary in the beginning stages of abstinence when the client may encounter the onset of medically dangerous 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 in case of any 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 approach to manage the severe withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin or other opiate withdrawal. This type of opiate detoxification is not treatment in itself however, and these individuals will need further counseling and therapy to entirely recover from addiction.

Anybody can become addicted to drugs no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes individuals particularly more susceptible to becoming involved in drug or alcohol use, because of the varying challenges that this can bring about in the individual's life. This is true for those people in the deaf and hearing impaired community as well, and treatment for substance abuse and addiction is sometimes needed. Deaf or hearing impaired persons will need ASL or other assistance as part of their treatment needs, and there are drug rehab programs available which cater to these needs. Professional treatment counselors who know ASL and can provide other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.