The Landscape of Legalized and Medical Marijuana: Rocky Navigation for Treatment Courts and Probation Across the Country
Hon. Patrick C. Bowler, ret.
Although the laws regarding the use of marijuana vary from state to state, the legalization of recreational marijuana and/or medical marijuana in some have created significant issues for probation departments and treatment courts. Probation departments are tasked with efforts to establish effective rehabilitation for probationers and treatment courts have successfully saved thousands of individuals from the throes of substance use disorders resulting in productive citizens with long-term, positive, self-directed recovery. A crucial goal of both probation and treatment courts is to promote public safety by reducing recidivism for behaviors that threaten our communities. A key factor in developing success with individuals assessed with a substance use disorder is compliance with the terms of probation that seek to wean individuals from the use of addictive substances. Some marijuana statutes thwart that effort. [Learn More]
Averhealth Academy Has Launched!
We are proud to announce the launch of Averhealth Academy, our new self-directed training platform for our customers! For a brief overview of Averhealth Academy, please check out the video below.
If you are interested in an Aversys demo or learning more about Averhealth Academy, please reach out to sales@averhealth.com.
Congratulations to APPA Leadership Institute Graduate — Melissa Patrick
Averhealth wants to congratulate all of the APPA Leadership Institute Graduates, but especially Melissa Partick. Justin Manni, Averhealth's Business Development Director, spent the past eighteen months mentoring Melissa and knows the work she has put into this program! Congrats to all of the APPA Leadership Institute Graduates!
“The APPA Leadership Institute has provided me an opportunity to reflect on my leadership journey and how I can promote growth in the field.”
Melissa Patrick is the Support Services Manager with Des Moines Municipal Court in Des Moines, WA. She has worked in probation/support services for over seven years. Melissa currently serves as President for the Washington State Misdemeanant Probation Association and is an active member of the Washington State Impaired Driving Advisory Council. She is passionate about impaired driving programs including DUI Court, holistic supervision, and motivational/goal-centered case management. Melissa stated that she participated in the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) Leadership Institute to emphasize that no matter the size of the department or jurisdiction each and every person in their field has the ability to elicit change and be a leader in the industry.
Drug Trends — Marijuana Concentrates
Officer Jermaine Galloway, better known as "The Tall Cop," will be an ongoing featured contributor to the Averhealth Digest on drug trends — providing you with highlights of street drug trends your clients may be using. If you are testing for the same drugs day after day, you are probably missing the drugs being used! Learn how to stay current on the most recent drug trends and how your drug testing program plays an integral role in your clients' recovery process. This month, Officer Galloway discusses marijuana concentrates.
A marijuana concentrate is a highly potent form of THC, extracted from green, leafy marijuana buds, most commonly appearing similar to honey or butter. On the street, it is known as “honey oil.” Other common names include: THC extractions, marijuana extracts, extracts, or even butane hash oil (BHO). BHO is created by running traditional marijuana (in its plant plant-based form) through some type of solvent, even butane. After “the run” they will cook off the butane, leaving a paste known as “concentrates” or dabs, budder, honey oil, or shatter. The use of butane in the extraction of dabs has caused explosions leading to injuries of the individuals making the hash oil. Butane is not the only way these extractions are created. Other solvents include propane, Co2, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and even water (known as bubble hash).
Wax
Wax is one of the more common names for marijuana concentrates, as is the term “shatter”. As the makers of these products continue to refine the product into higher purity levels, it can reach the level of “shatter.” Shatter is a glass-like substance that can also look like a clear or amber-colored hard taffy. Basically, if you are unable to make shatter, the product will be wax.
Why all the effort you ask? The THC content in traditional marijuana is much lower than dabs/concentrates. THC concentrates can be as high as 90% or higher. These levels include the oil form that is in vape pen cartridges. On a side note, dabs or concentrates can be THC, CBD, or both (all depends on the grower/processor).
Trainer Info
Tall Cop Says Stop is a national & international trainer who has trained over 500,000 people. Learn more: www.tallcopsaysstop.com
Industry News
No Change in Adolescent Drug, Alcohol Use During Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has posed significant challenges for many, but it did not appear to drive U.S. preteens and young teens to drugs.
Repeated surveys of more than 7,800 10- to 14-year-olds between September 2019 and August 2020 found the overall rate of drug use remained stable, according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). What did change was their drugs of choice: Alcohol use fell, while the use of prescription drugs and tobacco products rose. [Learn More]
All About Substance Use and Bipolar Disorder
Addiction is a disease with a brain and behavior component. About 20.2 million adults reported a substance use disorder in the last year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The rate of substance use disorder keeps rising with about 9.9%Trusted Source of adults becoming diagnosed with drug use at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
Substance use disorder can cause and complicate many health conditions. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), almost half of people with substance use disorder also have a mental health condition. [Learn More]
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