Detoxification is typically the first step in getting off drugs. It allows a particular person 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 think that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is hardly ever the case. All detox does is get an individual through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to learn the root of why someone was using drugs in the first place.