Lots of people don't realize this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is much more extreme than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of treatment specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use independently abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there is hope for many who would like to get off of the drug for good. Within an alcohol and drug detoxification program drug rehabilitation facility which handled methadone dependency and addiction treatment specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health threats linked to methadone detoxification when the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Bad health as a result of drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist setting.