Many people don't understand this completely when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't actually effectively resolve opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is far more severe than most other opiates including heroin. For this reason, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who need to abstain from the drug completely. Inside an alcohol and drug detoxification center drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which deals with methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation professionals do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There aren't any real health threats connected with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however, this isn't always the case. Poor health as a result of drug abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.