Detoxification is usually the very first step in getting off drugs. It makes it possible for a 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 assume that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is seldom the case. All detox does is get a person through the withdrawal when they stop using. It is often recommended that detox be followed up with some type of treatment plan to find out the root of why somebody was using drugs in the first place.