Hospital inpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation is performed 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 client may encounter the onset of life threatening withdrawal symptoms, which is sometimes true when quitting alcohol as well as a category of prescription drugs known as benzodiazepines which must be supervised very carefully by medical professionals to minimize ant dangerous health complications. Hospital inpatient treatment is also delivered to individuals who desire a 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 detox is not treatment in itself however, and these people will need further counseling and therapy to completely recover from addiction.

Drug rehabilitation programs which are delivered on an outpatient basis are readily available to addicted people who have circumstances which prevent them from being able to take part in an inpatient rehab program. An outpatient drug rehabilitation center delivers many of the same services as an inpatient program, but allows for flexibility as opposed to an inpatient drug or alcohol rehab facility where the individual is required to stay and reside at the treatment facility until the treatment process is complete. Outpatient drug or alcohol rehab is also available for individuals who have already gone through residential or inpatient treatment but also need a thorough aftercare program which will offer additional support and therapy to help them remain clean and sober.

People can become addicted to drugs or alcohol no matter their handicap, disability or personal physical challenge. This sometimes makes people particularly more vulnerable to becoming involved in substance abuse, because of the difficult challenges that this can bring about in the person'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 and alcohol rehab programs available which provide these services. Professional substance abuse counselors who know ASL and can offer other necessary assistance to deaf or hearing impaired substance abusers.