Lots of people don't realize this completely whenever they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces significant dependence which is way more severe than most other opiates such as heroin. Due to this, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab specialists. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can tell you that this is virtually impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for individuals who desire to get off of the drug forever. In a drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which treats methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There won't be any real health threats linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, but this isn't always the case. Illness due to substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist facility.