Bakersfield, California is the Kern County seat and is the largest city in the county, at approximately 151 square miles, and with a population of 384,145. Residents here who are struggling with an addiction to opioid drugs should seek treatment at a methadone clinic Bakersfield right away. Methadone has been proven to help individuals abstain from opioids for more than fifty years, but the medication is most effective when it is paired with other forms of treatment, such as psychological and behavioral therapy. Some methadone clinics in California offer these services as part of a full treatment program, and those that don’t should be able to refer their patients to other facilities, therapists, and organizations that do. Recovering from opioid use disorder is an ongoing journey, and individuals in recovery should remain patient and continue with methadone maintenance therapy for as long as they need. Research shows that a minimum 12 months of treatment is best, and some individuals may continue to take methadone for much longer.