A lot of people don't understand this fully when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, produces considerable dependence which is far more severe than other opiates including heroin. Due to this, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation specialists. Individuals who have tried to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for individuals who desire to abstain from the drug forever. In a drug and alcohol detoxification facility drug rehab facility which handled methadone dependence and addiction treatment experts do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health risks linked to methadone detoxification in the event the individual is healthy, but this isn't always true. Bad health due to substance abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional setting.