A lot of people don't realize this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't actually effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is much more severe than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation specialists. Whoever has tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who wish to get off of the drug forever. In an alcohol and drug detox program drug and alcohol treatment program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There aren't any real health risks linked to methadone detoxification when the individual is in good health, however, this isn't always the case. Bad health as a consequence of substance abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist facility.