A lot of people don't realize this completely whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can advise you that this is almost impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who desire to get off of the drug completely. Inside a drug detoxification facility alcohol and drug rehabilitation center which handled methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation experts do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There won't be any real health risks connected with methadone detoxification if the person is healthy, but this isn't always true. Poor health because of drug or alcohol use could make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.