BILLERICA, Mass. – Marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to support overdose prevention and recovery, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is proud to report that its naloxone vending machine has been accessed 205 times in its first 12 months at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction.
Installed in December of 2024, the machine provides free naloxone kits, each containing two doses of the overdose reversal medication, to people visiting and working in the facility.
MSO staff members have had access to naloxone for responding to emergencies on duty since 2016.
“Each of the 205 kits shared with our community represents a potential life saved,” said Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “The continued use of the naloxone vending machine shows we are removing unnecessary barriers to this critical resource. We will do everything we can to support and care for those struggling with substance use – whether they be our visitors, agency partners, coworkers, or their loved ones.”
Over 40% of people incarcerated at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction have a diagnosed substance use disorder (SUD). The naloxone vending machine is an extension of the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery, or MATADOR, and Families in Treatment programs. Both efforts focus on recovery, treatment, and support for individuals and their loved ones who are dealing with addiction.
The naloxone kits can be obtained anonymously at the MSO’s Visitor Center in Billerica. The machine displays instructional graphics showing how to properly administer the medication in the event of an overdose. Individuals can also complete a brief, voluntary survey asking questions about race, age, and zip code, which better helps inform future MSO programming and prevention efforts.
“By arming the loved ones of individuals with an opioid use disorder with naloxone, we are empowering people with a life-saving tool to deploy in the critical moments following an overdose,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “Just as we would with any first aid material, we are committed to making sure people are educated in its emergency use until first responders can arrive.”
To learn more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, please visit middlesexsheriff.org.
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