A lot of people don't realize this completely once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces significant dependence which is far more severe 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 aid of rehabilitation specialists. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can advise you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who would like to get off of the drug once and for all. Within an alcohol and drug detox program alcohol and drug rehabilitation program which treats methadone dependency and addiction rehab specialists work tirelessly to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There won't be any real health hazards connected with methadone detoxification if the person is healthy, but this isn't always the case. Bad health as a consequence of drug or alcohol use might make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.