When you hear “DEA,” odds are that your mind goes straight to movies or television shows, with officers wearing vests and windbreakers, brandishing weapons and kicking down the door of a crack house. While it’s true that there are DEA agents who do this sort of thing, there’s a lot more to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The DEA was created in 1973 by President Nixon. It’s a part of the Department of Justice, and it’s tasked with enforcing the laws pertaining to controlled substances or illegal drugs. They operate both within the United States and internationally, often partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and the FBI.
Some of the duties of the DEA include:
- Investigating and preparing for the prosecution of people who violate controlled substance laws, operating at both interstate and international levels.
- Investigating and preparing for the prosecution of criminals and drug gangs who commit violence in our communities.
- Managing a national drug intelligence program in cooperation with federal, state, local, and foreign officials in order to collect, analyze, and disseminate intelligence information relating to drugs.
- Seizing assets derived from, traceable to, or intended to be used for illicit drug trafficking.
- Enforcing the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act, specifically, the manufacture and distribution of legally produced controlled substances.
- Coordinating with federal, state and local law enforcement officials on potential interstate and international investigations.
- Coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies, and foreign governments, in various methods of reducing the availability of illegal drugs and training of foreign officials.
- Having responsibility, under the guidance of the Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassadors, for all programs associated with drug law enforcement counterparts in foreign countries.
- Liaising with the United Nations, Interpol, and other organizations on matters relating to international drug control.
The DEA agents who you think of as kicking down doors are field agents. They frequently go undercover in criminal organizations, posing as buyers, sellers, or financers. A Special Response Team (SRT) was created in 2016, to handle more dangerous operations. They might be involved in witness protection, surveillance, and fugitive searches.
The DEA is also partly responsible for determining what drugs belong to what schedules as part of the Controlled Substances Act. They face criticism for labeling some drugs as Schedule I (which is supposed to be for highly addictive drugs with no medical value) when the clearly do have medicinal purposes, such as marijuana.
Agents typically have at least a bachelor’s degree, although extensive experience in law enforcement is sometimes allowed as a substitute. They go through rigorous physical and psychological testing and a moral character examination. People who have a history of any sort of drug use, even experimentation, will not be considered for employment with the DEA.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
