Many people don't realize this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces significant dependence which is far more severe than other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab professionals. Individuals who have tried to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who wish to get off of the drug once and for all. Within an alcohol and drug detoxification program drug rehab program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction treatment experts do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health risks related to methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however this isn't always true. Poor health because of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist facility.