Many people don't understand this fully once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is much more severe than other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use independently abruptly can advise you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who wish to get off of the drug for good. In a drug and alcohol detox program drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility which handled methadone dependency and addiction rehab professionals work tirelessly to help ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There are no real health hazards related to methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Poor health due to drug abuse could make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.