Many people don't realize this completely once they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is much more severe than other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who want to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab specialists. Anyone who has tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and most relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is hope for those who would like to abstain from the drug completely. Inside a drug detoxification center drug and alcohol rehabilitation program which deals with methadone dependence and addiction rehabilitation specialists work tirelessly to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is really a safe process. There are no real health threats connected with methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always true. Poor health as a result of drug or alcohol use might make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason individuals should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional facility.