A lot of people don't realize this fully whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, creates significant dependence which is much more extreme than other opiates including heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can advise you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who would like to abstain from the drug for good. Within an alcohol and drug detox program alcohol and drug treatment center which handled methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation specialists do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There won't be any real health risks linked to methadone detoxification in the event the person is in good health, but this isn't always true. Illness as a result of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, and is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.