Detoxification is usually the initial step in getting off drugs. It permits a person 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 widespread mistake that many addicts make is to think that detox is enough to kick their habit. This is rarely the case. All detox does is get someone 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.