Middlesex Sheriff’s Office awarded $140,000 grant from Heroin and Opioid Crime Reduction State Initiative

MEDFORD, Mass. - Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian today announced the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office was awarded a $140,000 grant to enhance ongoing efforts to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in the Commonwealth.

The award, from the Heroin and Opioid Crime Reduction State Initiative, was released Monday morning by Governor Charlie Baker and Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Secretary Daniel Bennett.

“I want to thank Governor Baker and the Administration for their continued support of law enforcement efforts to address the opioid crisis,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Sheriff's Offices are on the front lines of this epidemic every day – we’re constantly innovating in an effort to save lives – and this grant will help us support our nationally recognized addiction treatment programming.”

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has been a leader in the field of addiction recovery and funds from this grant award will allow for the expansion of the Medically Assisted Treatment and Directed Opioid Rehabilitation (MATADOR) Program, a unique opioid and heroin addiction treatment model.  MATADOR incorporates the use of an injectable form of Naltrexone (a non-habit forming, long lasting medication which blocks the effects of opioids), substance abuse counseling/programming and continuity of care for participants upon return to the community.

Eligibility for MATADOR will expand with the awarding of this grant, allowing the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office to enroll more participants including females departing MCI-Framingham and those in the pre-trial population involved with the drug courts.

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