A lot of people don't understand this completely when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, creates significant dependence which is far more severe than most other opiates including heroin. Because of this, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who desire to abstain from the drug completely. Inside an alcohol and drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol treatment facility which deals with methadone dependency and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health hazards associated with methadone detoxification in the event the person is in good health, however, this isn't always true. Bad health as a consequence of drug abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.