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Sheriff Koutoujian speaks at White House’s “Making Health Care Better” Series

Posted on: November 30, 2016 - 1:55pm

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian (right) was at the White House on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 to participate in the White House’s Making Health Care Better Series discussion on substance use disorder. Sheriff Koutoujian joined (from left) Cynthia Reilly, the Director of the Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Initiative at the Pew Charitable Trusts; Dr. Stephen Patrick, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, Director of Policy at the Legal Action Center; and Harm Reduction Coalition Policy Director Daniel Raymond for a panel entitled “Advancing a Public Health and Public Safety Approach”.Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian today joined leaders from across the country at the White House to discuss efforts to address substance use disorders.

The discussion was part of the White House’s “Making Health Care Better” Series, which has looked at progress made at improving the health care system during the Obama Administration.   The event included opening remarks from White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli, who discussed the need for those suffering from substance use disorders to be able to access treatment, as well as closing remarks from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who talked about the impact of the opioid crisis on rural communities.

Sheriff Koutoujian joined officials from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Harm Reduction Coalition, the Legal Action Center and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine for a panel entitled “Advancing a Public Health and Public Safety Approach”.

“Last year, more than 4-in-10 people entering our custody at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction required medical detoxification and over 80 percent of those in our custody were identified to have a substance use disorder,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.  “Thanks to President Obama, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion have created new and important opportunities for those returning to the community to immediately access treatment services - breaking down significant hurdles to successful reentry.”

Through the first 11 months of 2016, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) has helped more than 350 individuals concluding their sentences apply for MassHealth, ensuring their ability to access health care post-release.  That care and treatment includes participation in the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) Program.

MATADOR is a six-month post-release program launched in October 2015, which incorporates the use of an injectable form of Naltrexone (a long lasting, non-habit forming medication which blocks the effects of opioids), substance use counseling/programming and continuity of care for participants upon return to the community.  Through the first year of the program, 40 individuals successfully completed six-months without a relapse.

Today’s event marked the third time this year Sheriff Koutoujian has spoken at the White House, previously addressing an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) forum on medication assisted treatment in June and the White House Forum on Disability and Criminal Justice in July.

“It is a tremendous honor to be invited to speak at the White House and I want to thank the Administration for the opportunity to share our work,” said Sheriff Koutoujian.

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