BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) -- The Kern County Misuse and Overdose Task Force announced a groundbreaking medical detox pilot program during the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday.
This initiative, the first of its kind in California, is part of the task force's efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis with the $10.5 million secured last year by Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains.
"I unfortunately was not able to be here to announce the $2 million to help Kern County's very first detox inpatient, specifically for medical patients," said Assemblywoman Bains. "This is something that we've worked on for a long time with the fentanyl task force. It's unique to the state. It's the first time to not just for private insurance but for medical recipients."
Charlie Van De Voorde, executive director at Be Finally Free, a community organization aiding those recovering from addiction, incarceration, and poverty, emphasized the program's potential impact.
"We get calls all the time about somebody wanting to go to detox but there doesn't ever seem to be enough beds, so this is going to help immensely," said Van De Voorde.
According to the Kern County Coroner's Office, nearly 300 deaths were related to fentanyl overdose in 2023.
Opioids are classified as the deadliest drug type, with initial reports from safety agents indicating the seizure of over 54 pounds of fentanyl and the arrest of 21 individuals as of December 2024.
The Drug Enforcement Agency states that just two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose to the average person.
Through the task force, the program has seized 24.7 million milligrams, equivalent to over 12 million potential deadly doses.
Van De Voorde also suggested the need for additional tools to keep the public informed.
"There needs to be a community forum and maybe even a Fentanyl Task Force Dashboard where the community can go in and see what's being produced," said Van De Voorde. "Maybe where the hotspots are in the community -- how many ER visits there have been -- what it's been laced with."