Currently, that number has risen to over 74 million. Behind these statistics are the stories of countless families, communities, and individuals adversely affected by drug abuse and drug trafficking. .
Prior to the 1960's Americans did not see drug use as acceptable behavior, nor did they believe that drug use was an inevitable fact of life. Tolerance of drug use resulted in terrible increases in crime between the 1960's and the early 1990's and the landscape of America has been altered forever. By the early 1970's, drug use had not yet reached its all time peak, but the problem was sufficiently serious to warrant a serious response. To deal with America's growing drug problem the Drug Enforcement Administration was created in 1973. In the years prior to 1973, several important developments took place which would ultimately have an impact on the DEA and federal drug control efforts for years to come. By the time that the DEA was created by Executive Order in July 1973 to establish a single unified command, America was beginning to see signs of the drug and crime epidemic that lay ahead. .
The Mission and Objectives of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets. .
In carrying out its mission as the agency responsible for enforcing the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States, the Drug enforcement agency's main responsibilities include:.