Lots of people don't realize this fully whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates considerable dependence which is way more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who wish 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 cold turkey can advise you that this is almost impossible, and most relapse quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who need to get off of the drug completely. Within a drug and alcohol detoxification program alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation experts do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There aren't any real health problems connected with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however this isn't always true. Illness due to drug abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist facility.