Lots of people don't realize this completely whenever they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates significant dependence which is far more severe than most other opiates including heroin. Because of this, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use independently abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who desire to abstain from the drug completely. Inside a drug detox program drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which deals with methadone dependency and addiction treatment specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health risks associated with methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, but this isn't always the case. Illness due to substance abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.