Detoxing from methadone could be an extremely difficult thing to do, an experience which is known to be far more intense than even heroin detoxification. For this reason, many individuals who become involved in a methadone maintenance program or abuse the drug recreationally find it extremely difficult to give up. Likewise, some might just change to a different prescription drug to curb detoxification symptoms and then become dependent to that particular drug. Medication like Suboxone or Buprenorphine may reduce methadone withdrawal symptoms, but they most certainly aren't going to cure any kind of drug abuse or dependency issue. Nonetheless, there are ways to start methadone detox so that the person will get through detoxification without having to use other drugs. Within a drug detox program or drug and alcohol rehabilitation center which assists people who are going through methadone detox, detoxification professionals will most likely help the individual gradually decrease their dosage of the drug or cease use entirely when they are physically able to do so. Simply because people who are opiate dependant need extensive rehab after detox if any sort of long-term sobriety is to be expected, individuals who have finished a methadone detoxification must remain in a drug rehabilitation program for as long as deemed required by rehabilitation experts.