A lot of people don't understand this completely once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates significant dependence which is way more severe than other opiates including heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab professionals. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who desire to get off of the drug forever. In a drug detoxification program alcohol and drug rehabilitation program which deals with methadone dependency and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health risks linked to methadone detoxification if the person is healthy, however this isn't always the case. Poor health as a consequence of drug or alcohol use might make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.