WASHINGTON — Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian represented the National Sheriffs’ Association before the House Bipartisan Task Force on Heroin and Opioids during a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C focused on medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for incarcerated individuals.
The task force, chaired by Representatives Annie Kuster (D- NH) and Tom MacArthur (R- NJ), is comprised of over 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from across the country.
“I want to thank the chairs and members of the task force for the opportunity to participate in today’s discussion,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “Everyday sheriffs from across the country are innovating in an effort to address the opioid epidemic that is crippling families and communities from Massachusetts to Ohio, and beyond.”
Koutoujian presented on the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) Program which is one of the longest running MAT programs in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the NSA, he underscored the importance of flexibility to customize programs that meet the needs of diverse communities across the country and ensures that federal funding gets to the local level without unnecessary restrictions that can impede participation.
“America’s sheriffs are proud to take part in this important discussion and they are well represented by Sheriff Koutoujian,” said NSA Executive Director and CEO Jonathan Thompson. “We are excited to share with Congress the impactful solutions law enforcement brings to the table to thwart this crisis, including the Sheriff’s MATADOR Program.”
