Detoxification is usually the initial step in getting off drugs. It enables 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 common mistake that quite a few addicts make is to think that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is almost never the case. All detox does is get someone through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is always recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to learn the root of why a person was using drugs in the first place.