A lot of people don't understand this completely 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 considerable dependence which is much more severe than most other opiates like heroin. Due to this, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Those who have tried to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is hope for individuals who need to get off of the drug for good. Within an alcohol and drug detox center drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which treats methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation professionals work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make certain methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health threats associated with methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, but this isn't always true. Bad health as a consequence of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason people should undergo methadone detoxification in a specialist facility.