Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement

The Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE) was a federal agency that sought to reduce the local distribution of drugs through the enforcement of drug legislation. Beginning in 1968, there was growing public concern over the increase in recreational drug use that occurred during the 1960s and the social problems that resulted from this drug use. When President Richard Nixon was elected in 1969 he declared the “War on Drugs,” a campaign that sought to reduce the use, distribution, and manufacturing of drugs. According to Nixon, one of the main barriers to the War on Drugs was the disorganization and corruption among local law enforcement agencies. In order to enhance organization in law enforcement agencies and ultimately to resolve the drug threat, Nixon established ...