2. FEDERAL EFFORTS TO CONTROL DIVERSION AND LEAKAGES

The DEA is the primary Federal agency responsible for combating drug trafficking (including the diversion of legitimate drugs). In addition, other agencies such as the FDA have regulatory or enforcement functions. These functions, however, are concentrated primarily at the manufacturer/wholesaler level. Responsibility for drug enforcement at the retail level has been delegated to the States.

(1) DEA's Priorities in Controlling Diversion

To ensure proper coordination of diversion control and other State and Federal drug control activities, formal enforcement relations between the DEA and the States are presented in a Memorandum of Understanding (Letters of Agreement) with the individual States. Although this program began with DEA's predecessor agencies, it is continuing as an important part of DEA's diversion control program.

The concentration of drug A at identifiable points in the manufacturing and wholesaling levels of distribution permits effective control of producers and wholesale distributors. Given the existing level of funding for investigatory activities, the DEA has concentrated its control and resources on the flow of controlled substances through the manufacturing and wholesaling levels.

3. AGENCIES WORKING TO CONTROL DEMAND FOR DRUGS OF ABUSE

In addition to the drug abuse prevention and education activities of NIDA, a number of Federal agencies are working on an approach to the problem of drug abuse through reducing the demand for drugs of abuse. Until very recently, policies relating to drug abuse control focused on reducing supply and using criminal sanctions to stifle demand. There were, as there are now many officials assigned to the drug abuse program who felt that abuses will occur when a readily available illegal supply of drugs exists. But the cost of reducing this supply has become so great that a number of additional Federal agencies are now attempting to reduce demand.

(1) Drug Enforcement Administration

The DEA conducts drug research to determine the need for drug control and regulation and to determine the consequences of drug abuse. This information is forwarded to agencies involved in treating and rehabilitating drug abusers and in drug abuse research. This information also is made available in DEA publications, professional journals, and by many other channels of communication to both dispensers of drugs and the general public through the Agency's Voluntary Compliance Program.

(2) Office of Education

The Office of Education is responsible for providing facilities for drug abuse prevention training activities. It also provides preservice and inservice teacher training related to drug abuse prevention instruction. These responsibilities are coordinated with NIDA and other Federal agencies.

(3) Other Federal Agencies

The Department of Defense (DOD), the Veterans Administration (VA), and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) are involved in the drug abuse prevention program to the extent that they treat specialized populations. In cooperation with NIDA, DEA, and other Federal agencies, these organizations established treatment and rehabilitation programs for drug abusers, and established programs to provide information on the consequences of drug abuse.

(4) Communication of State Boards with

DEA

Professional boards inform the DEA of license actions to varying degrees. These data are presented in Table 1. For all professions, 34 percent (66) indicated that DEA is informed of only license revocations. However, 32 percent (62) of the boards indicated that they inform DEA of all actions regarding licensure. And 30 percent (59) indicated that they reported both drug registration revocation and drug crimes and felonies. Pharmacy boards indicated the highest percentage (44) of all boards informing the DEA of all actions. Data indicate that all professional boards maintain some communication with the DEA regarding licensing actions. While the degree of their communication varies, effective reporting measures have been established in most professions. A detailed description of the questionnaire used to obtain data can be found in Chapter IV.