Course Overview: Drug Identification and Recognition: Depressants, Antidepressants and Inhalants, an eLearning course in a series of Drug Identification modules, explores commonly abused depressants, sedatives, antidepressants, and inhalants. The other courses in this series include Stimulants, The Opioid Crisis in America, Hallucinogens, and Dissociative Anesthetics.

As reported by the US Surgeon General in 2015, 1.5 million Americans aged 12 or older reported misusing sedatives in the past year. Furthermore, 6.1 million individuals reported misusing tranquilizers such as Xanax®. Especially concerning, many of these individuals mix sedatives and/or tranquilizers with alcohol, a depressant in its own right. This risky behavior increases the potential for overdose which can occur when critical areas in the brain that control breathing, heart rate, and body temperature stop functioning.

The learning modules explore current trends relating to these substances, examine side effects and symptoms of abuse, discuss the synergistic effects of depressants mixed with alcohol, and review common and household items used for inhalant properties. Key topics in this course include muscle relaxers, GHB, solvents, interactions with alcohol, and the growing use among younger populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify commonly abused depressants, sedatives, antidepressants, and inhalants
• Discuss the current trends relating to these substances
• Summarize the side effects and/or symptoms of abuse for depressants, antidepressants, sedatives, and inhalants
• Describe the synergistic effect that occurs when depressants are mixed with alcohol
• Identify the household and other common items that are used for their inhalant properties

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, service providers, corrections professionals, court system personnel, social workers, behavioral health/treatment providers, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-007 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 1 hour including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Drug Identification and Recognition: Dissociative Anesthetics, an eLearning course in a series of Drug Identification modules, examines two of the most popular dissociative anesthetics, phencyclidine (also known as PCP) and ketamine. The other courses in this series include The Opioid Crisis in America; Stimulants, Depressants, Antidepressants and Inhalants and Hallucinogens.

Dissociative anesthetics are a class of drugs that can make users feel detached from reality and their environment and distort how they see the world. These drugs can change the user’s perceptions of sight, sound, taste, smell and feeling. They inhibit pain by cutting off the brain’s perception of pain.

While exploring the chemical composition and physical properties of PCP as well as the dangers involved in the handling and manufacturing of the drug, the course also addresses the following on PCP and ketamine: methods of ingestion, associated paraphernalia, and common street names. Additionally, the content examines the physiological impacts, signs, and symptoms of overdose for both drugs.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the methods of ingestion, associated paraphernalia, and common street names related to these substances
• Discuss the physiological impacts
• List the signs and symptoms of overdose
• Discuss current trends relating to these substances
• Discuss the dangers involved in handling and manufacturing PCP
• Identify the legitimate medical uses and the legal brand names of Ketamine

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, service providers, corrections professionals, court system personnel, social workers, behavioral health/treatment providers, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-007 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

Learning Hours: 30 minutes including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Drug Identification and Recognition: Hallucinogens, an eLearning course in a series of Drug Identification modules, examines various types of commonly abused hallucinogens and current trends relating to these substances. The other courses in this series include The Opioid Crisis in America; Stimulants, Depressants, Antidepressants and Inhalants, and Dissociative Anesthetics.

In 2018, 5.2 million Americans aged 12 or older acknowledged misusing hallucinogens the previous year. While the number of total Americans misusing hallucinogens since that time has remained relatively flat, disturbing new trends are developing - increased use by high-school aged students and young adults and the emergence of designer drugs.

This module helps law enforcement officers and other criminal justice professionals employ the appropriate actions and safety measures when responding to illicit drug-related events. This course focuses on how a user’s emotional state can influence the hallucinogen’s effects.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify commonly abused hallucinogens
• Summarize current trends related to hallucinogens
• Describe common effects of hallucinogens on the body
• Explain how a user’s current emotional state can influence the hallucinogen’s effects

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, service providers, corrections professionals, court system personnel, social workers, behavioral health/treatment providers, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-007 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Learning Hours: 1 hour including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Drug Identification and Recognition: Stimulants, an eLearning course in a series of Drug Identification modules, identifies and examines the various types of commonly used stimulants such as pharmaceutical stimulants, cocaine, methamphetamine, and natural stimulants. The other courses in this series include Depressants, Antidepressants, and Inhalants, The Opioid Crisis in America, Hallucinogens, and Dissociative Anesthetics.

As reported by the US Surgeon General in 2015, 1.7 million Americans aged 12 or older reported using methamphetamine in the past year, 5.3 million Americans reported misusing prescription stimulants such as Adderall or Ritalin, and 36 million Americans reported using Cocaine/Crack. Especially true of stimulants, both psychotherapeutic drugs and illicit drugs, studies have shown that addictive substances cause the release of dopamine, resulting in feelings of pleasure.

The course demonstrates how to employ the appropriate actions and safety measures when responding to stimulant-related law enforcement requests.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify various types of commonly abused stimulants
• Examine effects of stimulants on the body
• Identify signs of methamphetamine production and conversion
• Discuss appropriate actions and safety measures to employ when responding to stimulant-related law enforcement requests

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, service providers, corrections professionals, court system personnel, social workers, behavioral health/treatment providers, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-007 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Learning Hours: 1 hour including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?

Course Overview: Drug Identification and Recognition: The Opioid Crisis in America, a two-part eLearning course in a series of Drug Identification modules, provides an overview of the chemical and legal classification of opioids and examines the national epidemic of opioid abuse. The other courses in this series include Depressants, Antidepressants, and Inhalants, Stimulants, Hallucinogens, and Dissociative Anesthetics.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, every day in America, 116 people die from an opioid overdose. Part one of this course, “The Opioid Crisis in America: Overview”, discusses the differences between opiates and opioids, identifies uses of opioids, examines the overall national opioid epidemic, and describes the societal impacts of opioid abuse. Part two, “The Opioid Crisis in America: Opioid Drugs and Responses” reviews the most commonly abused prescription opioid drugs, differentiates between physical manifestations of synthetic opioids in comparison to other opioids, examines common methods of opioid injection and common paraphernalia used for ingestion, and reviews medications to reduce opioid dependence.

The modules provide key information and safety measures law enforcement and criminal justice providers should know when responding to opioid related events and examine community response and other evidence-based practices.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the difference between opiates and opioids
• Identify uses of opioids
• Examine the overall national opioid epidemic
• Describe the societal impacts of opioid abuse
• Identify the most commonly abused prescription opioid drugs
• Differentiate between physical manifestations of synthetic opioids in comparison to other opioids
• Examine common methods of opioid injection and common paraphernalia used for ingestion
• Identify medications to reduce opioid dependence

Target Audience: Law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, service providers, corrections professionals, court system personnel, social workers, behavioral health/treatment providers, and other community stakeholders.

Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by the National Criminal Justice Training Center of Fox Valley Technical College and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-007 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

Learning Hours: 2 hours including the pre-test and post-test.

Is this POST approved in my state?