Classes
are available on a limited basis.
New in Drugs
Course
Number:
CR-533
Course Length: 1 Day (7.5 Hours)
Law enforcement officers,
treatment specialists, and many other professionals encounter
drugs frequently during routine enforcement, assessment and treatment
activities. These drugs include legal and illegal prescription
medications, contraband substances, misused over-the-counter preparations,
and other compounds used for both medical and non-medical purposes.
Few challenges to law enforcement, probation and parole officers,
educators, alcohol/drug treatment professionals, and counseling
professionals are as difficult as attempting to keep up with the
innovations of the drug user and seller. Unless one is actively
engaged in daily drug work, as in a drug task force or primarily
assigned to other drug duties, it is difficult at best to stay
informed about the changing trends, substances, abuses, tools,
and other elements associated with the modern drug culture. Due
to the popularity of the Internet and social media, the discovery
of a “new high” or a new method of drug use is disseminated
throughout the world almost instantaneously. Those in the drug
enforcement, education, and treatment communities need to be aware
of and knowledgeable about drug innovations worldwide.
This workshop, completely
revised each year, focuses on the new and the different as encountered
throughout the world, the nation, and particularly the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania. Topics include The most recent statistics on
drug use and abuse, new methods of alcohol and prescription drug
abuse; recent abuse of common substances such as caffeine, nicotine,
catnip, and wild plants: the increased use of energy and “relaxation”
substances; new forms and uses of the old “hard” drugs
such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis, and psychedelics;
the increased demand for and use of “club drugs” such
as MDMA, molly and PCP; issues of on-line purchase of legal and
illegal substances; driving impairment relating to a wide variety
of substances; drug hides ans searches; I-dosing; and detection
of drug use. Particular emphasis is given to “medical”
and “recreational” cannabis, and the increasing appearance
of prescription drug use among children and young adults. Discussion
will focus on legal and illegal drugs used and abused, recognition
of various illegal substances, changes in the paraphernalia used
with various drugs, and safety issues. This is not a drug enforcement
class, but rather it is a drug recognition and familiarization
session, with hundreds of visuals.
