A lot of people don't realize this completely once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't actually effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates considerable dependence which is way more severe than other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation specialists. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who would like to abstain from the drug for good. Within a drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol rehab program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment experts do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There aren't any real health risks related to methadone detoxification if the person is healthy, however this isn't always true. Bad health as a result of drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist facility.