It was in that hotel lobby that a “hopeless drunk” named Bill Wilson made a telephone call that led him to another man just like himself. These two men discovered that helping someone else deal with his (or her) addiction was the one thing that could keep them sober.

More than 70 years later, their names have become synonymous with recovery: Bill W and Dr. Bob. Bill was a bright man who sought to make his fortune in the stock market, but his alcoholism undermined his success time after time. Dr. Bob was a surgeon who nearly lost his practice because his hands shook so badly. Almost from the day of their meeting, neither man drank again. By laying the cornerstones of what would come to be known as Alcoholics Anonymous, their personal experiences of recovery changed the way the world looked at addiction forever.

Nearly every drug rehabilitation program uses the 12 Steps these men developed as the basis of its treatment protocols.

In addition to the 12 Step model of recovery, which seeks to illuminate and remove the behaviors that foster addiction, modern treatment programs have incorporated group and individual counseling, workshops on understanding and preventing relapse, and behavior modification therapy. They may also offer nutritional guidance, physical therapy, meditation, yoga, and other relaxation techniques and recreational opportunities.

In some cases, before “treatment” can begin, the patient needs detoxification (commonly referred to as detox). During this period, which can last from 24-72 hours, the toxic residue of years of drug abuse is purged from the patient’s body. To prevent the mental and physical pain of withdrawal, the patient is medicated and supervised by nurses at all times.

It’s important to note that, in itself, detox is not treatment. Merely removing the residual effect of drugs doesn’t remove the patient’s desire for drugs. Detox simply allows the patient’s mind and body to be prepared to participate in the process of recovery.