Many individuals don't understand this completely once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription drug doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates significant dependence which is way more severe than most other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of treatment professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use independently abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who need to abstain from the drug once and for all. In a drug and alcohol detoxification program drug and alcohol treatment program which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation professionals work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health problems linked to methadone detoxification when the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Illness as a consequence of drug abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.