Bakersfield, CA Drug Treatment and Alcohol Rehab Information

Access to Drugs in Kern County

Bakersfield’s location and well-developed highways in and out of the city and state may make it an ideal landing spot for drugs coming up from Mexico – heroin and methamphetamine in particular. Mexican “ice” and meth in general are considered the biggest drug threats in Central Valley California (CVC) as Mexican DTOs smuggle the drugs in. They may also be produced or readied for distribution in the many rural areas in the region.[5] In August 2015, a large-scale drug ring that operated to traffic and distribute large quantities of meth as well as heroin from Bakersfield to oil-field rich areas of Montana and North Dakota was busted, further indication of drug operations in CVC.[6]

Both meth and heroin seizures at the Southwest Border between Mexico and the United States (which includes regions of Southern California and the city of San Diego) have increased in recent years, which indicates a rise in drug activity and drug availability in California and the rest of the country.[7] Methamphetamine seizures at the Southwest Border increased 66 percent in number and 105 percent in amount from 2011 to 2014, while heroin seizures jumped in number 71 percent and volume 49 percent.[8]

The Kern Narcotics Enforcement Team (KNET), which works with the California Multi-Jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team (Cal-MMET) and is separate from the DEA, seized almost 50,000 grams of meth in 2013, up from just over 700 grams in 2010 in Kern County.[9] Meth and heroin are not the only drug concerns in the area, however. In the fiscal year (FY) 2014, border patrol also seized almost 18,000 pounds of marijuana crossing the border in San Diego and close to 1,800 pounds of cocaine.[10]

Increased amounts of drugs flowing into Bakersfield drops street prices and heightens all drug-related risk factors, which usually includes increased use, abuse, and addiction rates. Meth was the number one drug listed in treatment admissions in Kern County; between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014, approximately 42.6 percent of individuals admitted for substance abuse treatment at Kern County Mental Health cited meth as a drug of abuse.[11]

Substance abuse treatment admissions can help determine which drugs area residents may be struggling with abuse of and dependency on, as the drugs with the highest rates are likely those local individuals are most commonly abusing. One of the significant findings in the CVC drug abuse trends is the increase in heroin treatment admissions, which overtook marijuana treatment admissions in 2014.[13] In Kern County specifically, heroin treatment admissions rose from about 250 people in 2012 to around 800 in 2014.[14] Heroin may be becoming a popular substitute for prescription opioid painkillers, as it interacts with the brain and body in much the same way. Due to increased legislative and law enforcement efforts, prescription narcotics may be harder and more expensive to divert and therefore less accessible to abuse.

Effects of Drugs on Local Community

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that negatively impacts families and communities. Meth is an illegal drug manufactured in clandestine laboratories, from over-the-counter stimulant cold medications like pseudoephedrine, into a powder or a crystal form (crystal meth) that is usually smoked, snorted, or injected. It provides a rapid “high” by altering the levels of dopamine, or “happy cells,” present in the brain. This disruption of the brain’s natural chemistry interferes with the normal functioning of the reward system and emotional regulation methods. Regular use of a drug such as meth can drastically change the way the brain responds to pleasure, and individuals addicted to methamphetamine may crave the drug and feel physically and mentally terrible without it. Meth addiction can also cause psychotic symptoms in heavy abusers that may include hallucinations, bursts of violent behavior, and paranoia.

Meth is a mind-altering substance that can affect impulse control, self-confidence, and levels of aggression, which may lead to potential crimes, injury, and/or violence.[15] Between May 10, 2014 and June 10, 2014, people admitted to the emergency department (ED) at Kern Medical Center were randomly polled, and 30 percent reported that they had used meth at some point in their lives.[16]

Meth abuse may double the chances of being involved in domestic violence or inflicting violence on yourself.[17] Individuals addicted to meth may also commit crimes in an attempt to obtain more of the drug. Other crimes related to meth may involve distribution and possession of the drug. In May 2014, the Bakersfield Police Department was involved in 2,105 encounters, almost 14 percent of which involved methamphetamine directly and just over another 14 percent were suspected to also involve the drug in some way.[18] Incidents involving meth in Kern County are rising as well, which could indicate that a higher percentage of the population is abusing the drug. In May 2008, approximately 37.71 percent of felonies charged in Kern County were related to meth, while more than half (50.2 percent) were in May 2014.[19]

In Bakersfield in May 2014, there were 29 incidents with law enforcement that resulted in children being removed from the home, and nine of these cases involved methamphetamine.[20] The Bakersfield Police Department estimates that it will make around 5,000 arrests this year that will involve narcotics.[21] Drugs and crime go together for many reasons; they create a drain on local society not only financially, but also in regard to overall health and safety.

Bakersfield Behavioral Health Treatment

Addiction is a treatable and preventable disease. It has negative health consequences that can be avoided with the right kind of care and treatment. Mental health can also be improved by behavioral health services and programs designed to decrease mental illness symptoms and facilitate recovery both from substance dependency or abuse and mental disorders.

The Kern County Mental Health Department has a Substance Use Disorder Division and numerous mental and behavioral health resources for local residents about local public treatment options and programs.[28] Public programs are generally funded by the state or county or with federal grants, and they are open to all residents regardless of finances, culture, ethnicity, or gender. They may be low-cost or free, and may accept Medi-Cal or private insurance when fees are involved. Public healthcare services often leave a treatment gap that may be bridged by private substance abuse or mental health programs and facilities. Private programs may be more comprehensive and have more options and services available.

Both private and public treatment programs may differ in the types of services they offer and level of care provided. Most will have a hotline to call and crisis services for individuals needing immediate help. Rehab and mental health programs may be either residential or outpatient and can include detox services, therapy and counseling sessions, educational opportunities, family support, 12-Step and faith-based programs, and recovery services. A mental health assessment and drug screen are usually among the first things done in order to help determine what type and level of care may be the best course of action. Needs may change throughout recovery, and movement between types and levels of treatment programs may occur as well. Research-based treatment models provide individuals with the highest level of care possible to encourage a safe and continued recovery.

Bakersfield is a city that spawned a completely different type of country music that became wildly popular all across the country. This community still hosts country music concerts and live performances on a regular basis.

The partying lifestyle that is often associated with live music comes with some drawbacks, particularly involving drugs and alcohol. For many people, a country concert would just not be the same without an ice-cold beer or a shot of whiskey. That drinking, and occasional drug-taking that happens too, could lead to an addiction. If it does, there are Bakersfield treatment programs that can help. These are the top seven options in the city limits:

This is a list of the major treatment providers that are accepting patients in Bakersfield, but it is certainly not an exhaustive list. There are small providers and large hospitals that can also provide robust help for people in need. Families living with an addiction can change things, and they can change now. Call providers and start the conversation.