Course Overview: Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Overview, an eLearning course, provides a basic understanding of the risks of parental or caregiver substance abuse and drug activity to children. The content helps law enforcement officers and other public safety practitioners develop strategies to meet the needs of drug endangered children. Additional courses provided by DEC include Prenatal Substance Exposure - Why Should I Care?, Postnatal Risks - How You Can Make a Difference, and You Can Change the Long-Term Outcomes of Drug Endangered Children.
In the United States, an estimated 9 million children are at risk because they live in homes where a parent or other adult misuses drugs or alcohol. With an understanding of using a multidisciplinary approach, law enforcement officers and human service professionals strengthen the positive impact they have on meeting the needs of drug endangered children. This course explores how community stakeholders can work together to improve the lives of drug endangered children. For more information on drug endangered children, please National DEC at https://nationaldec.org.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the risks of parental or caregiver substance abuse and drug activity to children
- Recognize the importance of early intervention
- Identify the long-term impact on and needs of drug endangered children
- Recognize the elements required for a multidisciplinary collaborative response to meet the needs of drug endangered children
- Choose appropriate next steps to take after completing this module
Target Audience: Law enforcement, first responders, and child welfare, medical, legal, and education professionals.
Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-008 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Learning Hours: 45 minutes including the pre-test and post-test.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-327
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this
course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

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.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-332
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

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.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-349
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

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.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-343
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

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.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-336
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

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.Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-333
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

Course Overview: Postnatal Risks – How You Can Make a Difference, an eLearning course, demonstrates how an environment of substance use and drug activity can affect drug endangered children (DEC) throughout their lives and provides action steps that stakeholders can take to respond to the needs of drug endangered children. Additional courses provided by DEC include, Drug Endangered Children Overview, Prenatal Substance Exposure - Why Should I Care?, and You Can Change the Long-Term Outcomes of Drug Endangered Children.
Postnatal exposure to an environment associated with substance use and drug activity affects drug endangered children throughout their childhood and entire life. Early intervention maximizes a drug endangered child’s potential outcomes. Through interactive modules, discover how to use promising practices and DEC Protocols to sustain ongoing change and improve DEC outcomes. For more information on drug endangered children, please National DEC at https://nationaldec.org.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify postnatal risks of exposure to environments where there is substance use and drug activity
- Recognize the importance of early identification and intervention in changing the trajectory of a child’s life and breaking the intergenerational cycle of abuse
- Identify the essential elements required for a multidisciplinary collaborative response to meet the needs of drug endangered children
- Apply promising practices and DEC protocols to sustain ongoing change and improve DEC outcomes
- Choose appropriate next steps to take after completing this module
Target Audience: Law enforcement, first responders, and child welfare, medical, legal, and education professionals.
Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-008 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Learning Hours: 45 minutes including the pre-test and post-test.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-339
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

Course Overview: Prenatal Substance Exposure - Why Should I Care, an eLearning course, demonstrates the dangers of prenatal substance exposure for drug endangered children (DEC) throughout their lives and provides action steps that stakeholders can take to respond to the needs of drug endangered children. Additional courses provided by DEC include, Drug Endangered Children Overview, Postnatal Risks - How You Can Make a Difference, and You Can Change the Long-Term Outcomes of Drug Endangered Children.
Prenatal substance exposure has the potential to cause a variety of physical and developmental challenges for drug endangered children throughout their lives. The content outlines the part individuals play in identifying children who are at risk, how to begin the earliest possible intervention while in utero, and understanding one’s ability to change the trajectory of the child's life. Intervention begins by starting a conversation using interviewing techniques and providing resources and sharing information with community partners. For more information on drug endangered children, please contact National DEC National DEC at https://nationaldec.org.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the effects of maternal substance use or exposure to drug activity during pregnancy
- Recognize the importance of early identification and intervention in changing the trajectory of a child’s life and breaking the intergenerational cycle of abuse
- Select appropriate techniques to engage in conversation with prenatal subjects
- Provide prenatal subjects with information about resources available to them in their community
- Recognize the essential elements required for a multidisciplinary collaborative response to meet the needs of drug endangered children
- Choose appropriate next steps to take after completing this module
Target Audience: Law enforcement, first responders, and child welfare, medical, legal, and education professionals.
Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online
training was developed by National Alliance
for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) and was originally supported by
cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-008 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office
of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Learning Hours: 45 minutes including the pre-test and post-test.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-338
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.

Course Overview: You Can Change the Long-Term Outcomes of Drug Endangered Children, an eLearning course, demonstrates how exposure to drug activity and substance use has long-term impacts on drug endangered children (DEC) and includes action steps to support these children. Additional courses provided by DEC include, Drug Endangered Children Overview, Prenatal Substance Exposure - Why Should I Care?, and Postnatal Risks - How You Can Make a Difference.
This course outlines how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as growing up in households where substance use and drug activity are present impacts children long-term including cognitive deficits, emotional risks, high-risk behavior, and health problems. Early intervention and building resilience are important factors that can change the trajectory of a child’s life and help break the multigenerational cycle of substance abuse. For more information on drug endangered children, please contact National DEC at https://nationaldec.org.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the long-term impact and needs of drug endangered children throughout childhood and into adulthood
- Examine how early identification and intervention can change the trajectory of a child’s life and break the long-term cycle of multigenerational substance abuse
- Determine the best approach to a particular situation to reduce trauma for drug endangered children
- Recognize the essential elements required for a successful multidisciplinary collaborative response to meet the needs of drug endangered children
- Choose appropriate next steps to take after completing this module
Target Audience: Law enforcement, first responders, and child welfare, medical, legal, and education professionals.
Cooperative Partners: This tuition-free online training was developed by National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) and was originally supported by cooperative agreement 2017-CK-WXK-008 by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Learning Hours: 45 minutes including the pre-test and post-test.
Arizona POST Approved Course
AZPOST Approval 22-334
AZPOST does not require the standard approval form for this course; however, if you would like one, please contact AZPOST directly at contactus@azpost.gov.
