Lots of people don't understand this fully once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, creates considerable dependence which is way more extreme than other opiates including heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Individuals who have tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug forever. Within a drug detox center alcohol and drug rehab center which handled methadone dependence and addiction rehab professionals do everything they can to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health threats related to methadone detoxification when the person is in good health, but this isn't always true. Illness as a result of drug or alcohol use may make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist facility.