A lot of people don't understand this completely when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, creates significant dependence which is much more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who would like to abstain from the drug completely. Inside a drug detox center drug rehab program which treats methadone dependence and addiction treatment specialists work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There won't be any real health risks connected with methadone detoxification in the event the individual is in good health, but this isn't always the case. Poor health due to substance abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist setting.