A lot of people don't realize this fully when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces considerable dependence which is much more severe than other opiates like heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment specialists. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can advise you that this is almost impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug forever. Within a drug detoxification program drug and alcohol treatment facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction treatment professionals do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There won't be any real health hazards associated with methadone detoxification if the person is in good health, but this isn't always true. Poor health because of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.