Detoxification is typically the first step in getting off drugs. It allows a person to be in a supervised environment 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 frequent mistake that a lot of addicts make is to believe that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is rarely 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 uncover the root of why someone was using drugs in the first place.