Detoxification is normally the initial step in getting off drugs. It allows an individual to be in a supervised setting while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are different types of detoxification. Theyrange from drug-free to medically supervised. A common mistake that many addicts make is to feel that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is hardly ever the case. All detox does is get somebody through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to discover the root of why a person was using drugs in the first place.