Lots of people don't realize this fully once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is far more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Those who have tried to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can advise you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for individuals who would like to abstain from the drug completely. In a drug detox center drug and alcohol rehab facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehab specialists do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There won't be any real health hazards associated with methadone detoxification when the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always true. Bad health as a consequence of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.