Ayurveda believes that addiction to alcohol or drugs is created due to an imbalance of the constitution of the addict. The individual believes they are addressing this imbalance through the use of an outside stimulus; when in fact these substances are simply furthering these imbalances. The goal of ayurveda is to address these imbalances and to give the individual the tools to handle stressors without the use of drugs or alcohol. Addiction and/or alcoholism is not only a physical imbalance of an individual constitution, but a psychological, emotional and spiritual one as well. When a person stops the use of drugs or alcohol abruptly they will usually experience withdrawal symptoms, and in certain cases this can be life threatening. Ayurveda is not a substitution or replacement for medical attention or specialized treatment programs, such as rehabilitation programs or 12-step recovery. It can be used in addition to a medical treatment plan, and as a supplement to lifelong recovery (such as the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous or its sister programs, originally laid out by Bill Wilson).