NCJ Number
54066
Date Published
1977
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF CRIMINAL DIVERSION OF LEGALLY MANUFACTURED CONTROLLED DRUGS IS DISCUSSED, AND A FEDERALLY SUPPORTED PROGRAM DESIGNED TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM AT THE STATE LEVEL IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES TRADITIONALLY HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON THE CONTROL OF ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFIC ORIGINATING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND IN DOMESTIC CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES THAN ON THE DIVERSION OF DRUGS (E.G., AMPHETAMINES, BARBITURATES, TRANQUILIZERS) FROM THE LEGITIMATE MARKET. BUT LEGALLY PRODUCED DRUGS ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN THE ILLICIT MARKET, AND THERE IS A NEED FOR GREATER ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM, PRIMARILY AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. UNDER THE DIU PROGRAM, THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA), U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR DIVERSION CONTROL, BRINGING FUNDING, MANPOWER, EXPERTISE, AND COORDINATION TO THE STATES. DIU'S ARE STAFFED AND OPERATED BY STATE AUTHORITIES, WITH DEA PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. DIU'S ARE STAFFED WITH INVESTIGATORS FROM STATE REGULATORY BOARDS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WHO ARE RELEASED FROM OTHER DUTIES IN THEIR AGENCIES IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATE SOLELY ON DIVERSION CASES. POLICY BOARDS CONSISTING OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH PARTICIPATING AGENCY, PROVIDE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNITS AND ENSURE THAT NO SINGLE AGENCY HAS COMPLETE CONTROL. THE DIU PROGRAM WAS PILOT TESTED IN TEXAS, MICHIGAN, AND ALABAMA IN 1972. SINCE THEN, DIU'S HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED IN 17 STATES. IN AN OUTLINE DIRECTED TO STATE OFFICIALS INTERESTED IN PLANNING FOR A DIU, INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ON THE DIU PROGRAM MISSION AND OBJECTIVES, THE DIU CONCEPT IN THE STATE MILIEU, DIU INTERFACE WITH PARENT AGENCIES, AND DIU GUIDANCE, SUPERVISION, AND EVALUATION. (LKM)