A lot of people don't understand this completely whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab professionals. Individuals who have attempted to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can advise you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who need to get off of the drug completely. Inside a drug detox center drug and alcohol rehabilitation program which handled methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health threats linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is in good health, but this isn't always the case. Bad health due to drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.