DCAM Consortium Report - Training guide for law enforcement

The Sessions in this training guide have been designed to support training workshops and provide information for trainers (ideally peer, law enforcement trainers). The 8 Sessions consist of slides, handouts and background information for law enforcement trainees to better understand the role of law enforcement in facilitating improved access to medical opioids. Trainers and participants should also be provided with the complementing Law Enforcement Guidance tool.

The training guide is an entry point for increasing knowledge and for examining issues related to the control of medical opioids and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in order to ensure availability for those with genuine need. By mixing theory and complementary activities, participants will gain an enhanced comprehension of the key topics.

The guide presents a range of requirements and approaches towards balancing the need to control opioids versus the need to ensure that opioid medications (including MAT) are available and accessible. These include United Nations (UN) Convention requirements, medical opioid supply issues, diversion control, and good practice in law enforcement towards improving access to medical opioids and MAT for those in need in communities and in prisons. Rather than prescribe specific ways for law enforcement to approach opioid control and availability, the training guide instead presents a range of models to be considered and which can be adapted for working with public health agencies to achieve improved balance in different country contexts.