Synthetic Drug Trends for Law Enforcement

Course Dates and Times: September 15th & 16th, 2026 8:30AM – 4:30PM

Course Fee: $249

Course Instructor(s): Mike Cashman

Michael P. Cashman is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a retired Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent. Michael Cashman has served as a Special Agent with the DEA for approximately 23 years. Mr. Cashman started his career assigned to the DEA San Diego Field Division Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team. After completion of his tour in San Diego, Mr. Cashman was assigned to the DEA Office of Training Clandestine Laboratory Unit located at the FBI Academy, Quantico VA. From Quantico, Mr. Cashman was assigned to the New England Field Division. He has been Clan Lab coordinator for two DEA field divisions and has attended and helped instruct the DEA Clandestine Laboratory Basic Class, Site Safety course, Level A Course, Clandestine Laboratory Tactical Course, the DEA Train the Trainer Course, the DEA Methods of Instruction course  Over the course of his career, Mr. Cashman has helped to investigate and dismantle Methamphetamine laboratories, P2P laboratories, MDMA, Fentanyl, DMT, MDA, BHO and other types of laboratories.

Mr. Cashman has instructed over 35,000 individuals on the dangers associated with clandestine laboratories throughout the world. He has instructed for Agencies such as the DEA, FBI, IACP, HIDTA, NMPI, DSA, CBP, HIS, CLIA, BATF, Secret Service, US Border Patrol, United State Marshal Service, United States Military, and other agencies. He has also conducted classes for Federal and State Prosecutors on Clandestine Laboratories and has instructed internationally on the hazards associated with Clandestine Laboratories. He has instructed in Mexico, at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, Thailand, at the Australasian Team Site Safety and Investigator course, the RCMP Clandestine Laboratory course, the Taiwanese Clandestine Laboratory course, and the Dominican Republic Clandestine Laboratory course. Mr. Cashman has also conducted training for first responders and EMS personnel, to include arson seminars and National Guard CST teams.

Mr. Cashman has received numerous awards for exceptional service and exceptional performance for investigative excellence from DEA, and various local, state, and federal agencies. Mr. Cashman has received multiple awards from United States Department of Justice for outstanding work and successful prosecution of Methamphetamine and precursor chemical cases. He was 2010, New Hampshire American Legion Police Officer of the year, 2010 American legion New England Police Officer of the year, and runner up for American Legion 2010 National Police Officer of the year. In 2013 Mr. Cashman was awarded the Steven Demo award for the top Narcotic Investigator in the State Of New Hampshire. In 2024 Mr. Cashman also received the NENEO lifetime achievement award.

Mr. Cashman has helped develop and produce Clandestine Laboratory safety videos, CD ‘s, articles, brochures, books, and television shows dealing with the hazards associated with the clandestine laboratories. Mr. Cashman has testified before state and federal legislative agencies on Methamphetamine and Methamphetamine manufacturing related items and has also testified as an expert witness in State and Federal Criminal Court, and in civil cases.

Course Content:

The curriculum provides detectives and patrol officers a better understanding of synthetic drugs, designer compounds, and the dangers associated with them. Participants of this training course will be exposed to valuable investigative techniques and tools throughout the course. At the end of the training, students will be able to:

• Be able to identify trends
• Identify packaging, labeling, and deceptive retail/online marketing practices
• Identify distribution networks and concealment tactics
• Understand officer safety protocols and field hazard awareness
• Understand investigative and enforcement strategies supported by recent case examples
• Identify intelligence resources and interagency collaboration tools for ongoing threat tracking

Who should attend? This training is ideal for all detectives and patrol officers wanting to know more about dangerous, illicit substances disguised as legitimate retail products and how to properly investigate such cases.

Contact Tom Grimaldi (Director of Training) at TGrimaldi@newhaven.edu for more information.