A lot of people don't understand this fully once they start 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, produces significant dependence which is way more severe than most other opiates like heroin. Because of this, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug completely. Within an alcohol and drug detoxification program alcohol and drug treatment center which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation specialists do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There aren't any real health threats associated with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, but this isn't always the case. Illness because of drug abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional facility.