A lot of people don't realize this completely once they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces significant dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates including heroin. Because of this, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can advise you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug once and for all. Inside a drug detox program alcohol and drug treatment facility which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment specialists work tirelessly to help ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There won't be any real health hazards linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, but this isn't always true. Illness as a consequence of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist setting.