Lots of people don't understand this fully when they begin a methadone maintenance program, but methadone being a prescription medication doesn't in fact treat opiate addiction. Methadone, whether used as part of an opiate maintenance program or used illicitly, creates considerable dependence which is far more extreme than most other opiates such as heroin. Because of this, individuals who would like to get off of methadone will likely need to undergo methadone detoxification with the help of rehab professionals. Whoever has tried to stop methadone use by themselves abruptly can tell you that this is practically impossible, and many relapse very quickly. With expert methadone detoxification, there's hope for those who need to abstain from the drug forever. Within an alcohol and drug detox center drug treatment center which handled methadone dependence and addiction rehab experts work tirelessly to relieve withdrawal symptoms and ensure methadone detoxification is a safe course of action. There are no real health threats connected with methadone detoxification in the event the individual is in good health, however, this isn't always true. Bad health as a result of drug abuse may make methadone detoxification dangerous, and is another reason people should undergo methadone detoxification in a professional setting.