Train to the next Level

Over the last 6 years Law enforcement, Fire and Hazmat services and other public safety agencies have faced unique, and ever-evolving challenges. We have all risen to face these threats, first with the rise of Fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and in the last few months the threat of COVID-19. We have developed training and tactics to deal with these threats to protect our personal safety but are we doing enough to prepare for the future especially with the changing nature of narcotics?

On May 17 ,2020 Los Angeles fire fighters responded to a structure fire that contained a marijuana business that specialized in the manufacturing of " Butane Honey Oil" . BHO is the extraction of THC from marijuana plants. 11 fighters were injured in this fire. God bless our heroes who responded to this location and we wish them a speedy recovery. Based on my training when I hear of a hash lab fire , I immediately think of the following : polar solvent or non-polar solvent?  Closed loop systems ?  Is there open blasting?  What about the LEL ?  These are some of the hazards associated with THC extraction labs.  I know because we train to deal with these hazards.

Let us look to the future. The ongoing CONVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world of illegal narcotics. Open source documents indicate the illegal drug manufacturers have had their chemical supply chains severely disrupted , but they have adapted very quickly to overcome these difficulties. How does this impact our public safety agencies? We are going to see things we have not encountered before.  One of my friends recently raided and seized a Foxy Methoxy Lab aka 5-MeO-DIPT . How many first responders know of the high hazards associated with this type lab or even what one looks like? With the disruptions of chemicals to utilized in manufacture P2P Methamphetamine south of the border, are we going to see a resurgence in Red P tweaker or one pot Methamphetamine Labs?  Methamphetamine abuse and overdoses are increasing every year. How are methamphetamine manufacturers going to meet the demand for their product. What about the access to the dark web, are we going to see more MDMA, LSD or NN-DMT labs ? These are the questions you need to ask yourself and your agency. Are you prepared to safely address these threats ?

How do we do this? Training ,Training and Training. Dust off your old SOP's, review them and update them. Due to retirements we are losing a lot of institutional knowledge. We need to memorialize this information before the “dinosaurs” go. Appoint someone to keep up on new and reemerging trends. Check open sources like YOUTUBE to see the latest like how to order K2 AKA spice AKA Synthetic Cannabinoids . Type in Salvia and watch people smoke it and observe the physical and mental effects of the drug on them. What you see will make you shake your head. Bring someone from outside your agency to do an emerging drug and narcotics class ,this will give your agency a different perspective on these threats. Last but not least nothing beats hands on training for your agency.

The future is unwritten when it comes to new and reemerging drug trends. We need to anticipate the next wave of threats that will be hitting our shores. We must be prepared . To be prepared we must train , train and train.