A lot of people don't realize this fully when they start a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription drug doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate dependency. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illegally, produces significant dependence which is much more severe than other opiates such as heroin. For that reason, individuals who wish to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the aid of rehabilitation professionals. Whoever has attempted to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is almost impossible, and many relapse in a short time. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for many who need to get off of the drug completely. Within a drug detoxification center alcohol and drug treatment center which treats methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation specialists do everything they can to relieve withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health threats linked to methadone detoxification when the person is healthy, however this isn't always the case. Bad health because of drug abuse may make methadone detoxification risky, which is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a specialist facility.