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. 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
new methods of alcohol and prescription drug abuse; recent abuse
of common substances such as caffeine, nicotine, catnip, bath
salts, synthetic marijuana, and supplements; new forms and uses
of the old “hard” drugs such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine,
cannabis, and psychedelics; new synthetic opioids; the increased
demand for and use of “club drugs” such as MDMA, molly
and PCP; driving impairment relating to a wide variety of substances;
drug hides; I-dosing; and detection of drug use. Particular emphasis
is given to Pennsylvania’s “medical” cannabis
law and its implementation; law enforcement response to overdose
emergencies; new drug overdose survivor treatment efforts; issues
with DUI-drugs detection and incidents; and the increasing appearance
of not-yet scheduled dangerous substances. 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 and videos.
