A lot of people don't realize this completely whenever they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, creates considerable dependence which is much more severe than most other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who wish to abstain from the drug once and for all. Inside an alcohol and drug detoxification facility drug rehabilitation center which treats methadone dependency and addiction treatment specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There won't be any real health threats associated with methadone detoxification if the person is healthy, however, this isn't always true. Poor health because of drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist facility.