Many individuals don't realize this fully when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who want to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is hope for many who would like to get off of the drug once and for all. Within a drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility which treats methadone dependency and addiction treatment specialists work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There won't be any real health problems associated with methadone detoxification if the person is in good health, but this isn't always true. Poor health because of drug or alcohol use might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.