Lots of people don't understand this fully when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription drug doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, produces significant dependence which is far more severe than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can tell you that this is almost impossible, and most relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who wish to abstain from the drug forever. Inside a drug detox center drug treatment center which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals do everything they can to ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There are no real health risks connected with methadone detoxification if the person is in good health, however this isn't always the case. Poor health as a consequence of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, and is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.