Detoxification is typically the initial step in getting off drugs. It permits an individual to be in a supervised setting while they go through withdrawal symptoms for drugs and/or alcohol. There are diverse types of detoxification. Theyrange from drug-free to medically supervised. A common 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 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 find out the root of why someone was using drugs in the first place.