A lot of people don't understand this completely once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is much more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Those who have tried to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can tell you that this is almost impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for individuals who would like to abstain from the drug forever. Within a drug and alcohol detox program drug and alcohol treatment facility which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment experts do everything they can to ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There are no real health risks associated with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however this isn't always the case. Bad health as a consequence of substance abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional facility.