Substance use trends and implications for pain assessments

This live 1-hour event will allow participants to ask Officer Thomas questions regarding current substance use and trends.

This session will examine current regulation and use patterns of pain-relieving substances including kratom, nitrous oxide, kava and nitazines. Because these substances are increasingly accessible and may not be detected via urine drug screenings, we will equip health care professionals with strategies for undisclosed use among people with pain and the general public.

Presenter Biography:

Officer Mike Thomas is a Senior Police Officer with the City of Spokane Police Department, in the State of Washington.  With nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, Officer Thomas specializes in impaired driving enforcement, drug recognition, and professional training for law enforcement and medical communities. Officer Thomas has been a certified Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.) since 2000 and a D.R.E. Instructor since 2005, instructing at Washington State D.R.E. Schools and assisting with field certifications.  He has served on the Washington State D.R.E. Advisory Board since its inception and continues to act as the D.R.E. Regional Coordinator, overseeing more than 14,312 square miles of eastern Washington State. In 2019, Officer Thomas joined the Spokane Municipal DUI (Driving Under the Influence) Therapeutic and Accountability Court, bringing a law enforcement and D.R.E. perspective to the therapeutic court model. He is also a Licensed Medical Phlebotomist who manages and trains the law enforcement phlebotomy program for Spokane Police Department and other surrounding agencies. Officer Thomas uses his expertise to promote prevention and awareness through advanced drug trend education he provides that fosters collaboration between law enforcement, medical professionals, and community partners throughout Washington State.

Learning objectives:

1. Understand current use of pain-relieving substances including kratom, nitrous oxide, kava and nitazines
2. Recognize signs and symptoms of unreported substance use
3. Identify reliable patient education and treatment resources for people who are taking unprescribed substances