Category: Illegal Drug Use

Las Vegas Metro Police Announce Stay Safe Training Program for Sexual Assault Prevention

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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is launching their Stay Safe training program to encourage fellow law enforcement agencies and industry workers to adopt procedures for sexual assault prevention. This program was created with input from Las Vegas nightclubs, casinos, and instructors here at TAM of Nevada. Check out this preview video from LVMPD.

We’ve included highlights of the Stay Safe training program in our alcohol awareness training. Hospitality professionals are on the front line interacting with guests. That means they can play a part in helping to spot risky interactions. This awareness training teaches workers how to approach different situations, and what to watch for.  TAM training already gives these workers the edge in providing excellent customers service and safe beverage service. Stay Safe is a natural extension of that.

Are you interested in learning more about this program? Contact Las Vegas Metro PD for more information.

TAM of Nevada Now Offering Online Nevada Marijuana Compliance Course

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NMC CourseIt’s official! In July 2017 legal recreational marijuana sales began across the state of Nevada. Do you know all of the new rules that can affect you? You can now register for the 30-minute online Nevada Marijuana Compliance Course to get up to speed on what’s new and need to know.

TAM of Nevada is offering this brand new online course, developed by O/E Learning. This new course can help you prepare for new and coming changes in the legal cannabis industry here in Nevada.

This training is the perfect introduction for employees of marijuana-based businesses, or for anyone who wants to learn more about the ins and outs of this new industry and laws. This interactive course includes fun animated scenarios and practical information for sales professionals.

While Nevada regulations are still in flux and may not be completely defined until sometime in 2018, this course gives you the foundation you need to be prepared. Objectives include:

  1. Understand the laws for legal possession and use of marijuana in Nevada.
  2. Recognize and recite the effects of marijuana, and the synergistic effects when combined with other drugs.
  3. Perform a successful I.D. check or diligent inquiry.
  4. Recognize the signs of visible intoxication for marijuana sales professionals.

Visit the TAM of Nevada website to learn more and get enrolled!

Caution – New Device Allows Users to Inhale Alcohol for Quick and Powerful Effects on the Body

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Hospitality JobsAlcohol sales professionals have an obligation to serve alcohol responsibly. As such, any responsible seller of alcoholic beverages should be aware of a new product which hit the shelves in December, the Vaportini™. Working like a traditional vaporizer, this new product heats up alcohol with a votive candle, and releases the vapors into a small chamber which the user inhales through a straw.

There is an increased risk of serious intoxication with this device, especially if used irresponsibly. The Vaportini works by bypassing the digestive system and causing alcohol to be absorbed directly to the bloodstream through the lungs. Normally, when a person consumes an alcoholic beverage, the alcohol is absorbed primarily through the stomach and small intestine. The presence of food slows this process further. Food in the stomach keeps alcohol in the stomach for a longer period of time which means that it will be absorbed into the bloodstream at a much slower rate. This is why it’s advisable to offer your patrons a snack or a meal while they are imbibing. However, when alcohol is inhaled, it enters the lungs and goes directly into the bloodstream, causing effects much more quickly and inducing a powerful buzz.

Worth nothing is that the Vaportini shares some similarities with the Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) device, a nebulizer which mixes alcohol with pure oxygen. The AWOL device debuted in 2004 and was quickly banned in over 20 states, including Nevada (Nevada Revised Statutes). Alcohol vaporizers like the AWOL are illegal in Nevada, so make sure you are up to date with your TAM® training, and maintain a thorough knowledge of applicable local and state laws.

The novelty of inhaled alcohol is especially attractive to young adults and teens, especially when the Vaptorini retails at a price of only about $35. Peer pressure is a constant concern among young people. Teens want to fit in, and alcohol is not only easily accessible to many, it can also contribute to the party atmosphere at celebratory events. For additional tips to help combat alcohol consumption among teen drinkers, check out our blog post, “Teen Drinking is a Dangerous Business.”

Are you concerned about the potential dangers of alcohol vaporizers such as the Vaportini?

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© 2013 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Club Drugs: A Growing Problem in Casinos and Industry Hot Spots

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Drug use continues to rise in our casinos, clubs, pools, concert venues and bars. The Gaming Control Board has alerted casinos and other establishments that this behavior will not be tolerated (State of Nevada Gaming Control Board). Is it possible to deal more effectively with this growing problem? Use of club drugs such as ecstasy, ketamine, GHB, and others is on the rise and establishments are tasked with working to keep patrons safe, so it is imperative that staff knows how to spot and deal with these risky behaviors. Do you know how to spot and effectively deal with customers who are under the influence of drugs?

As a bartender or server, there are certain things you should watch for to spot any patrons who may be engaging in and promoting dangerous drug use:

  • Watch for customers who are behaving erratically or exhibit symptoms of possibly being under the influence of drugs such as loss of coordination, dizziness, fainting, confusion or slurred speech (SAMHSA).
  • Be alert. If you suspect that your patron may have smuggled in and used club drugs at your establishment, you should treat them just as you would with someone who has had too much to drink. Alert your manager or supervisor so that they can intervene if necessary.
  • Remember, some club drugs such as Rohypnol may be lethal when mixed with alcohol and/or other depressants (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Given this, it is even more important to gauge a customer and situation before serving an alcoholic beverage.
  • Always check your employee handbook or company policies regarding how your employer handles these types of situations. You need to be aware of both company policies and you may have to report any suspicious behavior or anything that makes you uncomfortable to a manger. There may even be rules dictating that the person is escorted safely off of the property.

You can learn more about managing patrons from seasoned industry professionals with real-world experience by taking the Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) ® course offered by TAM® of Nevada. How have you chosen to identify and respond to situations of club drug use?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada