Lots of people don't realize this completely whenever they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates significant dependence which is way more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. For this reason, individuals who wish to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse rapidly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug once and for all. In a drug detox center alcohol and drug rehab program which deals with methadone dependency and addiction rehab specialists work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health risks associated with methadone detoxification when the individual is healthy, but this isn't always true. Bad health as a consequence of drug abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, and is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.