Lots of people don't understand this completely when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use independently abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who need to get off of the drug completely. Within a drug and alcohol detoxification center alcohol and drug treatment center which handled methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There won't be any real health risks related to methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, however this isn't always true. Bad health due to drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional facility.