Lots of people don't understand this fully when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't actually treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates considerable dependence which is way more severe than most other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who want to stop use of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab professionals. Anyone who has attempted to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can tell you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who need to abstain from the drug forever. Inside a drug detox facility drug and alcohol rehab facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehab specialists do everything they can to ease withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There won't be any real health hazards related to methadone detoxification in the event the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always the case. Bad health as a consequence of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.