Many individuals don't realize this fully when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone as a prescription medication doesn't in fact effectively resolve opiate addiction. Methadone, whether included in an opiate maintenance program or abused illicitly, produces considerable dependence which is much more severe than other opiates including heroin. For this reason, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehabilitation specialists. Those who have tried to stop methadone use independently cold turkey can advise you that this is virtually impossible, and many relapse rapidly. With professional methadone detoxification, there is certainly hope for individuals who desire to get off of the drug forever. Within a drug and alcohol detox program drug rehabilitation center which treats methadone dependency and addiction treatment professionals work tirelessly to help ease withdrawal symptoms and make sure methadone detoxification is a safe process. There are no real health risks linked to methadone detoxification if the individual is healthy, however, this isn't always true. Poor health as a consequence of substance abuse could make methadone detoxification risky, which is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification inside a specialist setting.