Fentanyl is quickly becoming one of the most dangerous and challenging drug-related threats to communities and law enforcement officials across the United States. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate used as a surgical anesthetic or as a narcotic to treat chronic and severe pain. It’s most used in cancer patients; however, over the last couple of years, it’s been blamed for the death of thousands of Americans. It’s characterized by the CDC as an “incapacitating agent,” and provides a substantial risk to law enforcement. Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin, whether through accidental contact or inhalation of airborne powder.

Many law enforcement officers are not aware of these risks, and the results can be deadly. Across the United States, dozens of officers have been exposed to Fentanyl during traffic stops, calls for service, and undercover operations. Many of those officers were incapacitated and had to be revived with Naloxone. The instructor has conducted audio/video interviews with several of the officers and these interviews will be presented during the class.

Day one of this training course will focus on breaking down Fentanyl as well as the latest trends in packaging and distribution. An emphasis will be placed on how to protect yourself from accidental exposure and possible overdose by using proper protective equipment. Officers will learn how to recognize the symptoms and respond to an officer overdose. The proper technique for naloxone deployment will also be presented.

An emphasis will be placed on how to collect, process, and preserve Fentanyl evidence while minimizing exposure. Example policies and procedures will also be presented. The second day of the training course will focus on investigative techniques involving Fentanyl cases. Best practices for undercover operations and/or controlled buys will be discussed in detail.