Detoxing from methadone may be an extremely difficult course of action, an experience which is known to be far more extreme than even heroin detox. Due to this, many individuals who become involved in a methadone maintenance facility or abuse the drug recreationally find it almost impossible to give up. Likewise, some may just change to another prescription drug to curb detox symptoms and after that become dependent to that particular drug. Prescription drugs like Suboxone or Buprenorphine may lessen methadone withdrawal symptoms, but they most likely aren't going to cure any sort of addiction or dependency problem. However, there are ways to start methadone detox so that the person will get through detoxification without other drugs. In the drug detoxification center or drug and alcohol treatment program which helps individuals with methadone detox, detox professionals will likely help the individual gradually decrease their dosage of the drug or cease use completely if they are physically able to do so. Because individuals who are opiate addicted need extensive rehabilitation after detoxification if any sort of long-term abstinence is to be expected, individuals who have finished a methadone detoxification must stay in a drug and alcohol rehab program as long as deemed needed by rehabilitation experts.