A lot of people don't understand this fully once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can advise you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for those who wish to get off of the drug completely. Inside an alcohol and drug detox program alcohol and drug treatment program which handled methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation professionals do everything they can to ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There aren't any real health risks related to methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, however, this isn't always true. Bad health as a result of drug or alcohol use could make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional facility.