Lots of people don't understand this completely when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, creates significant dependence which is far more extreme than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can advise you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who desire to get off of the drug once and for all. In an alcohol and drug detoxification center drug and alcohol rehab program which handled methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation professionals do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health hazards linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, however this isn't always the case. Illness as a consequence of drug abuse may make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional facility.