In the early 1970s, it
was clearly evident that drug trafficking and drug abuse,
impacted all social and economic levels of American society.
Any effort to curtail this epidemic need to be
comprehensive and coordinated involving all levels of
government, our social institutions, and our workplace.
Cooperatively recognizing the need to coordinate drug
enforcement efforts, eight Southeastern states joined to
form the State Drug Enforcement Alliance in 1970, to meet
three distinct needs:
1.
To foster greater
cooperation and coordination between member agencies by:
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The exchange of information
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The sharing of ideas and
methods for detection and apprehension
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The development of
legislative issues and effective legislation, and
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The support of parent,
civic, and school efforts in drug education
2.
To provide a
mechanism for state drug enforcement input to federal-level
policy, procedures, and operations through:
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The identification of
national drug issues
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The development of clear and
consistent policy for application and enforcement of
federal drug control laws, and
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The development of
coordination and cooperation with and between federal,
state, and local drug enforcement.
3.
To provide a forum
for state law enforcement and command level personnel
operationally involved in drug enforcement to exchange
management and information.
The eight participating states
initially met to discuss problems within their states, the
sharing of intelligence, focusing on investigative
techniques, and the development and use of technical
investigative equipment. In addition, the consensus views
of this representative group began to have an impact on
federal policy, federal legislation, and the regional
allocation of federal personnel and resources. With other
states quickly recognizing the value of such cooperative law
enforcement efforts and a unified voice, the organization
expanded its membership and in 1984 became chartered as the
National Alliance of State Drug Enforcement Agencies
(NASDEA). Membership now includes state-level drug law
enforcement representation from all fifty states. NASDEA
seeks to improve the sharing of information and enforcement
actions not only at the state and local level, but also
between member states and at the federal level.
To this end, the Alliance has
established and continues a close working relationship with
the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the
National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), the National
Governors Association, and the International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP). The Alliance’s inclusive state
representation and national networking has resulted in
NASDEA’s recognition as a major voice in national drug
enforcement policy and strategy. Today, NASDEA continues to
exchange intelligence information and strategies, which
impact both state and federal agencies. A major focus has
evolved in the area of narcotics intelligence sharing, which
now includes both state and federal sources. The Alliance
has also provided focus on the issue of establishing an
inclusive federal drug pointer index, which cooperatively
involves all federal narcotics enforcement efforts.
Dialogue between the Alliance, U. S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U. S.
Attorney General’s Office has led to a commitment by all
federal entities to work toward the establishment of this
critical investigative tool.
Now, the Alliance’s original
three-pronged focus remains a valid strategy as the Alliance
continues to encourage cooperation in drug enforcement
operations and policy development targeting inter-state,
regional, and national issues.
