Drug Enforcement Administration (U.S.)

In the United States, the leading federal agency responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations and for the investigation of the growing, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In addition to the DEA’s role in domestic drug efforts, it is also the primary agency in charge of investigating and pursuing drug investigations abroad. This article will review the history and early operations of the DEA, its role among the federal regulations of controlled substances, and its efforts to prevent drug trafficking to the United States.