Many 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 addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates considerable dependence which is way more severe than most other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of treatment professionals. Whoever has tried to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who wish to get off of the drug for good. In a drug detox program drug and alcohol treatment center which deals with methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation specialists work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health threats associated with methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, but this isn't always the case. Bad health because of substance abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification inside a professional facility.