Many individuals don't understand this fully once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who want to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Individuals who have tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can advise you that this is virtually impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who need to get off of the drug for good. In a drug detoxification program drug and alcohol treatment program which handled methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health problems connected with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however, this isn't always the case. Bad health as a consequence of drug abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist setting.