The safe handling and responsible disposal of chemicals used in the manufacture of illicit drugs are essential for mitigating risks associated with exposure and protecting water resources, reducing pollution, preventing land degradation and protecting local environments and their biodiversity.
The following resources have been developed to support law enforcement and customs officers including in remote locations where waste management infrastructure and expert technical support may not be available in order to reduce risks to people, communities and the environment. They offer practical scientific guidance on the safe handling of synthetic drugs with a focus on synthetic opioids and include procedures on basic safety, handling, storage and disposal.
The following self paced e-learning courses on the safe handling and disposal of chemicals in remote, developing and non-secure environments are available on the UNODC Global E-Learning platform:
The following video series as part of the UNODC Protecting Those Who Protect Us initiative offers guidance to frontline officers on the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to remain safe from the risk of exposure to synthetic drugs.
