Many people don't understand this fully once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates significant dependence which is way more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can advise you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who desire to abstain from the drug completely. In a drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction treatment experts do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There won't be any real health risks related to methadone detoxification in the event the individual is in good health, however, this isn't always the case. Poor health because of drug abuse could make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.