A lot of people don't understand this completely when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is much more severe than most other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use independently abruptly can advise you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who wish to get off of the drug forever. In a drug detox center drug rehabilitation facility which deals with methadone dependency and addiction treatment professionals do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There won't be any real health risks linked to methadone detoxification when the individual is in good health, but this isn't always true. Bad health due to drug or alcohol use could make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.