Drug abuse and its consequences threaten our quality of life. From 1992 through 1998, the overall costs of drug abuse to society were estimate at $143.4 billion. Of that amount, $98.5 billion was from a loss of productive (due mostly to drug abuse related illness and incarceration); $12.9 billion was for healthcare costs; and $32.1 billion was attributed to "other" costs, including costs associated with legal adjudication and police protection.¹ In 2002, more than 19 million Americans were "current illicit drug users," meaning they had used an illicit drug within the month prior to the survey interview, and an estimated 3.9 million Americans were dependent on or abused illicit drugs. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2002 National Survey on Drug Use & Health formerly called the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA))

The FBI is one of several Federal law enforcement agencies whose investigative jurisdiction includes the fight against the nation's drug problem. With our broad investigative jurisdiction, which focuses on the dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, the FBI contributes to addressing the drug problem. FBI investigations focus on identifying and prosecuting members of the hierarchy of the organizations. Efforts are also undertaken to investigate the financial base of these organizations, identify assets, and seize those assets to prohibit the organizations from enjoying the profits of their crimes.

In Hampton Roads, the FBI enjoys an excellent working relationship with local law enforcement agencies, the Virginia State Police, and various Federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, in the fight against the drug problem. Several task forces have enabled our law enforcement agencies to pool their resources for maximum impact. Benefits include improving the intelligence base regarding what drug organizations operate in the area, and taking advantage of all available expertise in our efforts to dismantle them. The investigations are largely focused on regional drug organizations, but also strive to trace drug supply routes to identify the major suppliers and their relationships to any of the national or international drug cartels.

Contact your local Hampton Roads Police Department or the Norfolk FBI at (757) 455-0100 to provide information regarding drug trafficking or distribution.

¹ The Economic Costs of Drug Abuse in the United States, 1992-1998, Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy