Many people don't understand this fully whenever they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illegally, produces significant dependence which is much more severe than most other opiates including heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Whoever has tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can advise you that this is almost impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who need to abstain from the drug for good. Inside a drug and alcohol detox center alcohol and drug treatment program which handled methadone dependency and addiction rehab professionals work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health risks connected with methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, but this isn't always true. Bad health because of drug abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.