Page 4 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 9, 2026 MSO marks one year for Naloxone vending machine M arking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to support overdose prevention and recovery, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) was 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 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 Middlesex County 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. The naloxone vending MSO issues scam warning involving fake judicial documents Special to The Advocate W OBURN, Mass. – The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) is issuing a warning for residents regarding scams involving fake judicial documents, “Preemptive Bail” and digital currency. In recent days, the MSO Vending Machine machine is an extension of the MSO’s Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (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 vending 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. has received numerous notifications from area residents reporting calls from criminals posing as law enforcement members. In each case, the callers alleged residents had warrants for their arrest for failing to appear in court. In at least three of those instances, residents were sent what appeared to be arrest warrants via text. The warrants – which are fake – indicated charges were for failure to appear and contempt of court. In all the instances – including those involving the fake warrants – scammers tried to convince residents to pay fines of up to $5,000. In one case involving a fake federal warrant, the scammer also sent the resident a document indicating they could post a “Preemptive Bail”, which would allow them to “avert apprehension and secure timely release.” The document also indicated that bail involving cash deposits “can be made at locally available kiosks, such as those found at grocery stores and fuel stations.” Another document indicated that the “White House Administration has approved Digital Currency as a method for posting eligible appearance bonds” and included directions on how to pay at an “Authorized Self Service Bonding Terminal”. “We want to be clear: no legitimate court or law enforcement agency will ever carry out its responsibilities this way,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian. “There is no such thing as preemptive bail, we will never ask you to pay a fine at a gas station or grocery store, and the courts do not accept digital currency. These are all tell-tale signs of a scam.” If you, or someone you know, has been targeted in one of these arrest scams, you are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the agency that the alleged warrant is from to report the incident. In cases where callers claim to be from the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, we ask that you call either 781-960-2800 or 978-667-1711 and ask to speak with an investigator in the Inner Perimeter Security (IPS) Unit. The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is also offering scam awareness and prevention presentations for local organizations within Middlesex County. Since the beginning of November, the MSO has delivered scam awareness presentations in five communities. Organizations interested in hosting a presentation may submit a request on the MSO website at www.middlesexsheriff. org/31/Community.
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