Lots of people don't realize this completely whenever they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates significant dependence which is far more severe than other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who would like to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab specialists. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can advise you that this is almost impossible, and many relapse quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who need to abstain from the drug forever. In a drug and alcohol detoxification center drug rehab program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction rehab professionals do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is really a safe course of action. There won't be any real health risks linked to methadone detoxification in the event the person is in good health, however, this isn't always true. Illness as a result of drug or alcohol use could make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist setting.