Many individuals don't realize this fully whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is way more extreme than other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation specialists. Whoever has tried to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for those who wish to get off of the drug completely. In a drug and alcohol detox program drug and alcohol treatment program which treats methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation experts do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health hazards linked to methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however this isn't always the case. Illness as a consequence of drug abuse could make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.