A lot of people don't understand this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medicine doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces significant dependence which is much more severe than other opiates including heroin. Because of this, individuals who want to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation specialists. Those who have tried to stop methadone use on their own abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and most relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who wish to get off of the drug completely. Within an alcohol and drug detox center alcohol and drug rehab facility which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehab experts work tirelessly to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health risks connected with methadone detoxification when the individual is in good health, however, this isn't always true. Poor health due to drug abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.