Nearly 160 naloxone nasal spray kits have been obtained by local residents during the first 10 months of a new initiative at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction.
In December 2024, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office became the first sheriff’s office in Massachusetts to install a naloxone vending machine – allowing visitors to obtain free doses of the opioid overdose reversal medication to carry with them or keep at home. Each kit contains two doses of the nasal spray. (Naloxone Vending Machine Video Link)
“At the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, we have been at the forefront of providing care and support for those with substance use disorder, those in recovery and their loved ones,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “As an extension of our nationally-recognized Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) and Families in Treatment (FIT) Programs, we have no doubt this initiative will help save lives.”
Individuals are able to obtain the medication anonymously and have the option to complete a brief survey regarding age, gender, race and zip code. The survey data will be used to help inform future MSO programming, as well as community-based prevention and intervention initiatives along with stakeholders from across Middlesex County. The survey takes less than 30 seconds to complete.
In addition to dispensing the naloxone, the vending machine features a video and graphics with instructions on how to properly administer the medication.
Throughout September, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has joined local partners and community members to mark National Recovery Month. Established in 1989, Recovery Month is a time “to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery possible,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
This month, MSO staff is participating in community events in Lowell, Malden and Waltham. The Families in Treatment (FIT) team is also holding a session for participants entitled “Many Roads to Recovery: Helping your loved one find the right path”.
“Recovery is possible,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “We know it isn’t easy, but we know it’s achievable – especially when people have the assistance of our dedicated, passionate team of professionals to support them throughout their journey.”
To learn more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office please visit middlesexsheriff.org.