Many individuals don't realize this completely when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is way more severe than other opiates such as heroin. Due to this, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for many who desire to get off of the drug for good. Within a drug detoxification program alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility which deals with methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation specialists work tirelessly to ease withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health hazards associated with methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Poor health as a consequence of substance abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, and is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.