Lots of people don't realize this completely once they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehab specialists. Individuals who have attempted to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who need to abstain from the drug completely. In a drug and alcohol detoxification center alcohol and drug rehabilitation center which handled methadone dependency and addiction rehab specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health threats linked to methadone detoxification in the event the person is in good health, but this isn't always the case. Illness because of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.