A lot of people don't realize this completely when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription drug doesn't actually treat opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, creates significant dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates including heroin. For that reason, individuals who want to get off of methadone will have to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation specialists. Individuals who have attempted to stop methadone use on their own cold turkey can advise you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse quickly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who would like to abstain from the drug for good. Within an alcohol and drug detoxification facility drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility which treats methadone dependency and addiction treatment experts work tirelessly to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There aren't any real health risks related to methadone detoxification if 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 one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.