Detoxification is usually the initial step in getting off drugs. It permits an individual to be in a supervised environment 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 prevalent mistake that many addicts make is to assume that detox is sufficient to kick their habit. This is seldom 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 uncover the root of why a person was using drugs in the first place.