Many individuals don't realize this fully once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces significant dependence which is far more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. Due to this, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who desire to abstain from the drug forever. Within a drug detox facility drug and alcohol rehab program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment specialists do everything they can to ease withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There won't be any real health risks related to methadone detoxification in the event the person is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Bad health because of drug or alcohol use might make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.