Many people don't understand this completely whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can advise you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for individuals who wish to get off of the drug once and for all. Inside a drug and alcohol detoxification program drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment specialists do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There won't be any real health hazards related to methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, but this isn't always the case. Poor health due to drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist setting.