Detoxification is typically the first step in getting off drugs. It permits a person to be in a supervised setting while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are various types of detoxification. Theyrange from drug-free to medically supervised. A widespread mistake that many addicts make is to think that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is almost never the case. All detox does is get a person through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to uncover the root of why an individual was using drugs in the first place.