A lot of people don't understand this completely when they commence a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription drug doesn't actually effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates significant dependence which is far more extreme than other opiates like heroin. For this reason, individuals who want to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of treatment specialists. Individuals who have attempted to stop methadone use by themselves cold turkey can tell you that this is nearly impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With expert methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who wish to abstain from the drug completely. Within an alcohol and drug detox facility drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which treats methadone dependency and addiction rehabilitation professionals do everything they can to help relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There aren't any real health risks associated with methadone detoxification if the person is in good health, however, this isn't always the case. Illness as a result of substance abuse might make methadone detoxification dangerous, which is one more reason folks should undergo methadone detoxification within a professional setting.