A lot of people don't realize this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't actually effectively resolve opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is far more severe than most other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation professionals. Those who have attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can advise you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for many who would like to abstain from the drug forever. Within a drug and alcohol detox program drug treatment facility which deals with methadone dependency and addiction rehab experts 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 problems linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, however this isn't always true. Poor health due to substance abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist setting.