Detoxification is generally the initial step in getting off drugs. It makes it possible for a person to be in a supervised environment 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 frequent mistake that many addicts make is to think that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is seldom 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 uncover the root of why somebody was using drugs in the first place.