Our team has been conducting training about the trend in synthetic cannabis and synthetic cathinones in New York since 2013. Due to many agencies and departments being unaware of what these drugs are and the dangers they pose, it was requested that our members with knowledge and experience in these investigations develop a training program. Our instructors created a program where different agencies and departments can request training based upon their specific needs. Classes have been taught to school staff and administrators, doctors and medical staff, correctional officers and civilian staff, police agencies, prosecutors, parole and probation officers, child protective services investigators and various community groups. The classes taught usually range from one to eight hours depending on the areas that need to be covered. The class is taught by investigators who work these types of investigations. References and pictures are often from ongoing or past investigations conducted by the instructors. Due to the always changing world of controlled substances, the classroom presentation is always changing and is updated for each new group. Class sizes have ranged from ten to two hundred and fifty people.
Common areas of training:
Common topics covered in training:
Common areas of training:
- Basic drug overview
- Synthetic cannabis
- Synthetic cathinones
- Opiates and fentanyl
Common topics covered in training:
- History and origin
- Basic overview and identification
- Concealment
- Methods of use
- Sign and symptoms
- Overdose
- Legal status
- Response and tactics
- Resources