Detoxification is typically the initial step in getting off drugs. It permits an individual 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 typical mistake that many addicts make is to believe 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 usually recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to find out the root of why someone was using drugs in the first place.