Detoxing from methadone could be an extremely difficult thing to do, an experience which is known as far more intense than even heroin detoxification. For this reason, a lot of people who get embroiled in a methadone maintenance program or abuse the drug recreationally find it almost impossible to stop. Likewise, some might just change to another prescription drug to stop detoxification symptoms and then become dependent to that particular drug. Medication like Suboxone or Buprenorphine may lessen methadone withdrawal symptoms, but they most definitely aren't going to cure any type of drug abuse or dependency issue. Nevertheless, there are ways to start methadone detox so that the person can get through detox without the use of other drugs. Within a drug detox program or drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that helps those that are going through methadone detox, detox professionals will most likely help the individual taper off of drug or stop use entirely should they be physically able to do so. Simply because people who are opiate addicted need intensive rehabilitation after detoxification if any sort of long-term sobriety is to be expected, people who have completed a methadone detox should continue in a drug rehab facility for as long as considered needed by rehabilitation professionals.