Exhibit Catalog with 

Parent’s & Teacher’s Guide

Good Medicine, Bad Behavior:

Drug Diversion in America

Drug Enforcement Administration Museum & Visitors Center • www.deamuseum.org

Good Medicine, Bad Behavior: Drug Diversion in America

Exhibit Catalog with 

Parent’s & Teacher’s Guide

Presented By:

Ronald W. Buzzeo, R.Ph.

Additional Sponsorship:

Bensinger, DuPont & Associates•Prescription Drug Research Center

National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation

Ziegler Wealth Management•PhRMA

DEA Educational Foundation Board of Directors:

William Alden, President • James McGivney, Vice President • Chris Egan, Secretary • Daniel Staffieri, Treasurer

Gustavo Arnavat • Jodi Avergun • Peter Bensinger • Charles Blau • Michael Emmerman • Mark Gold, MD • David Katz

Chin Ho Lee • Colleen Maloof • Carol Safir • Peter Schweitzer • Sue Thau • Larry Thompson • Michael Yamaki

William Beach, Director of External Relations

DEA Museum Staff:

Mary Irene Cooper, Congressional & Public Affairs

Sean Fearns • Dianne Martin • Cathleen Drew • Vince Lutes • Therese Cooper • Shanita Perry

Exhibit Design & Fabrication

Exhibit Design: Chris White Designs • Exhibit Fabrication: Capitol Exhibit Services
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For as long as there have been medicines and products aimed to heal 

injuries, cure diseases and relieve pain, there has been experimentation with overusing and abusing those products. From the rise of the 

patent medicine industry in the middle and late 1800s through to modern day 

scientifically-engineered prescription drugs, there have been good medicines 

that, because of bad behavior, have caused many negative results.

This exhibit presents a look back at America’s struggle in balancing the need 

to provide medications to improve the quality of life while working to prevent 

the diversion of those substances and the chemicals used to make them for 

illegal use.

There is an ever-increasing array of medications available for countless health 

issues as well as an alarming increase in the abuse or misuse of these 

products. The Good Medicine, Bad Behavior exhibit and education program 

exist to educate and increase public awareness of the potential for the abuse 

of prescription and over-the-counter medicines and encourage increased 

diligence by parents, educators, health care providers and law enforcement 

personnel to keep these products from being abused and diverted.

A 2005 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 

at Columbia University indicated the abuse of pharmaceutical controlled 

substances grew at twice the rate of marijuana, five times that of cocaine, 

and 60 times that of heroin between 1992 and 2003.

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Inside your Medicine Cabinet. . . . . . . . 4

History of Pharmacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The Science of Pharmaceuticals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Controlled Distribution System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Prescription Fraud and the Criminal Element. . . . . . . 17
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The DEA Office of Diversion Control

With new laws and controls put in place in the wake of rising abuse and 

overdose in the early 1900s, the government needed organizations to enforce 

those laws and regulate the industry.

Originally formed as the Compliance Program in 1970, the Office of Diversion 

Control consists of special agents, diversion investigators, chemists, pharmacologists, program analysts, and others. Together, they work to maintain the 

balance between the availability of enough medicine to meet the legitimate 

medical and scientific needs of the public while ensuring that none of these 

products are diverted to illegal use.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Office of Diversion Control is 

responsible for two distinct problems: the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals and the diversion of controlled chemicals.

In 2007, 6.9 million Americans abused prescription drugs, compared with 

3.8 million in 2000 – an 82% increase in seven years.

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Diversion of Chemicals. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Pain Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Lost Promise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Discovery Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
inside your medicine cabine

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Unlike street drugs like cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine, prescription and over-the-counter medicines are readily 

available in your home medicine cabinet and on the Internet.

The readily available nature of these substances, as well as the belief that 

the testing they go through when being brought to market makes them safe, 

can lead some to believe the medicines are safe to use at any dosage, in any 

combination, or at any time.

Ten Most Commonly Abused 

Prescription Drugs:

1⁄4 Benzodiazepine

1⁄4 Hydrocodone

1⁄4 Oxycodone

1⁄4 Methylphenidate

1⁄4 Amphetamine

1⁄4 Codeine

1⁄4 Barbiturates

1⁄4 Flunitrazapam

1⁄4 Morphine

1⁄4 Fentanyl

Good & Bad Effects 

Benzodiazepine — Good: Reducing anxiety, sedative for sleep, anti-convulsive. 

Bad: Drowsiness, dizziness, slowed pulse and breathing, fatigue, confusion, 

impaired memory and coordination, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, death.

Hydrocodone — Good: Pain treatment, cough suppression, reduced GI motility, 

anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, 

respiratory depression and arrest, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death.

Oxycodone — Good: Pain treatment, cough suppression, reduced GI motility, 

anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, 

respiratory depression and arrest, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death.

Methylphenidate — Good: Appetite suppression, constriction of blood vessels, treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, treatment for narcolepsy. Bad: Increased or irregular heart rate, reduced appetite, weight loss, 

heart failure, nervousness, insomnia.

Amphetamine — Good: Appetite suppression, constriction of blood vessels, 

treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, treatment for narcolepsy. 

Bad: Increased or irregular heart rate, reduced appetite, weight loss, heart 

failure, nervousness, insomnia, tremors, loss of coordination, irritability, 

anxiousness, restlessness, delirium, panic, paranoia, impulsive behavior, 

aggressiveness, addiction, psychosis.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America
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Mortar & Pestle

Codeine — Good: Pain treatment, cough suppression, reduced GI motility, 

anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, 

respiratory depression and arrest, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death.

Barbiturates — Good: Reducing anxiety, sedative for sleep, emergency seizure 

control, insomnia, anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, dizziness, slowed pulse 

and breathing, poor concentration, fatigue, confusion, impaired memory and 

coordination, fever, irritability, poor judgment, slurred speech, addiction, lifethreatening withdrawal, respiratory depression and arrest, death.

Flunitrazapam — Good: Reducing anxiety, sedative for sleep, anti-convulsive. 

Note: Not approved for use in the United States. Bad: Drowsiness, dizziness, 

slowed pulse and breathing, fatigue, confusion, impaired memory and coordination, visual and gastrointestinal disturbances, urinary retention, memory 

loss, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, death.

Morphine — Good: Pain treatment, cough suppression, reduced GI motility, 

anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, 

respiratory depression and arrest, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death.

Fentanyl — Good: Pain treatment, cough suppression, reduced GI motility, 

anesthesia. Bad: Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, 

respiratory depression and arrest, addiction, unconsciousness, coma, death.

Useful Definitions

Drug (drŭg) n. A substances that induces a response within the 

human body whether the response is beneficial or harmful.

Medicine (mĕd’ ĭ-sĭn) n. An agent, as a drug, for treating injury 

or disease.

Abuse (ә-byooz’) n. 1. Improper use or handling; misuse. 

2. Physical maltreatment.

Addiction (ә-dĭkt’ shŭn) n. To devote or give habitually or 

compulsively to something.

Diversion (dĭ-vûr’ zhәn) n. An act or instance of diverting; deviation.

Prescription (prĭ-skrĭp’ shәn) n. A physician’s written instruction or 

order for preparation and administration of a medication.

Drug vs. Medicine

Throughout this exhibit the term “medicines” is used to refer to substances 

legitimately made and used to heal. The term “drug” will be used to refer 

to substances that are illegally made, sold and abused with no intent for 

medicinal use. Drugs are not taken for healing purposes.
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During the past 120-plus years there has been a revolution in 

therapeutics. Medicines have been discovered to cure disease and to relieve 

pain. With these new medicines there is an increase in the misuse and abuse 

of some of them. This section looks at some of these medicines and their 

abuses, and the laws that have been developed to help control the misuse of 

those medicines. It is important to keep in mind that prescription medicines 

can be just as dangerous when misused as street drugs, such as cocaine, 

methamphetamine and heroin.

Turn-of-the-Century Pharmacies: 

1890s – 1940s

At the turn of the last century (as today), pharmacies not only provided health 

care products, but also many other essentials including shaving needs, dyes, 

pens, hair and skin products, as well as a variety of over-the-counter medicines. No regulations existed and many patent medicines contained opium, 

morphine, heroin and cocaine and were sold and widely used. These patent 

medicines included products like Coca-Cola, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, 

and Bayer Heroin. The growing realization that these drugs were harmful and 

needed to be restricted solely to medical use spurred the passage of the 

1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and later the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Act. Many 

manufacturers then either discontinued making the product or dropped the 

offending ingredient from their formula.

Internal Revenue tax label on narcotic box

Beginning in 1914, the Harrison Narcotics Act used IRS taxes on 

the sale and purchasing of narcotics as a way to control use. The 

Treasury Department assigned the first narcotic agents to enforce 

the Harrison Narcotics Act.

Bayer Heroin Bottle 

(circa 1900)
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Mid-Century Drug Stores: 1950s – 1970s

After World War II there was an amazing development of new medicines: tranquilizers, new amphetamines, barbiturates, and new opioids (synthesized opium products). Weight loss products were 

sold containing amphetamines and ephedrine. National marketing of these medicines increased 

their use. This post-war era brought with it affluence, social change and mass use of medicines 

and drugs. Many stimulant, tranquilizer and sedative medicines were misused. Amphetamines and 

barbiturates were called “mother’s little helpers” as many women developed a habit for the stimulation and sedative effects of these medicines. The predecessors to the modern Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA) and other government and private organizations began setting up education 

programs to stem the tide of abuse and addiction.

Valley of the Dolls

The wide spread abuse of 

amphetamines, sedatives 

and prescription narcotics 

throughout the American 

population led not only to 

new laws but to a number of 

popular novels depicting the 

problem. The Valley of the Dolls

was a best selling book that was 

later made into a movie. It clearly 

showed the uncontrolled abuse 

of prescription medicines and their 

tragic effects.

Anphetacomp

1960s-1970s — Weight loss products 

containing amphetamines are used on 

a continuing basis and not for weight 

loss alone. This misuse leads to removal 

from the market of such products and a 

limiting of the amount of legally produced 

amphetamines.

Pharmacists behind the counter of a 

mid-20th century pharmacy.
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Modern Day Pharmacies: 1980s – Present

The problem of pharmaceutical diversion continues to grow. Teenagers begin 

to experiment with medicines which result in addiction and deaths. New laws 

and enforcement efforts have been put in place. However, the diversion of 

medicines has grown to where it is now, among the most abused controlled 

substances. It is the responsibility of the doctor, the pharmacist and the patient to ensure that prescription medicines are used properly.

Tracking An Increase in Abuse

The recent increase in prescription drug abuse in this country is likely the 

result of several factors: significant increases in the number of prescriptions 

and in drug availability; aggressive marketing by the pharmaceutical industry; 

the rise of illegal Internet pharmacies that dispense these medications without proper prescriptions and surveillance; and a greater social acceptability 

for medicating a growing number of conditions. NIDA

Cough syrups containing dextromethorphan 

are being abused by teenagers. They 

drink the entire four-ounce bottle (known 

as Robo-Tripping) and get a sub-toxic 

hallucination reaction. Tablets containing 

dextromethorphan are also abused by 

taking a large number of tablets. The street 

name for this abuse of tablets is called 

skittling. Dextromethorphan abuse is 

now a national concern and education 

programs have been developed to 

decrease this abuse.

In 2006, in order to control each and every 

dose of a medicine, hospital pharmacies 

shifted to single dose packaging. Schedule 

II medicines received special packaging 

markings such as the red dot and the “C 

II” for controlled medicine. This method 

reduces the diversion of medicines within 

most health care facilities.
9

the science of pharmaceuticals

Medicines have been around for as long as mankind has been around 

to need them. While many substances are found to have wonderful healing 

and pain-relieving properties, there are also many that can cause harm if used 

incorrectly. But what do these products actually do to the body? What changes 

and what harm do they cause?

To understand the body’s response to the abuse of medications, we must first 

take a look at the human brain, and how it reacts to both natural chemicals 

and to drugs and medicines, as well as how it communicates. When drugs and 

medicines interrupt the brain’s natural reward pathways, a cycle of addiction 

and abuse can be created and can have lethal consequences.

How Drugs Alter the Brain’s 

Reward Pathway

Drugs interfere with the body’s 

reward system by bypassing the 

natural course and going directly to 

the brain’s reward pathway. There, 

they mimic the effects of the brain’s 

neurotransmitters to falsely produce 

and prolong the pleasurable sensation 

and paving the way for addiction. 

Virtually, all drugs of abuse activate 

the brain’s dopamine system and the 

pleasure/reward pathway. The physical 

shape of the drug is similar to the 

dopamine receptor site and can “lock” 

into it, thus replicating many times 

over the effects of dopamine. Typically, 

dopamine increases in response 

to natural rewards such as food. 

When cocaine is taken, dopamine 

increases are exaggerated and brain 

communication is altered. NIDA

The Pleasure Center of the Brain

The Brain’s Reward Pathway

Brains are hard-wired to keep humans 

alive. Therefore, the necessary elements 

for doing this: eating, reproducing, 

communal living, etc., are meant to feel 

pleasurable so that they will be repeated 

and the species will continue. When these 

activities are performed, the brain rewards 

the body through a complex “pleasure 

center” which reinforces the desire to 

repeat the behavior. NIDA
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the science of pharmaceuticals

“In the past 30 years, advances in science have revolutionized our 

understanding of drug abuse and addiction. Drug addiction is a 

brain disease.”

Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse

How Drugs Kill

Stimulants are one type of drug that can kill. They trigger 

the release of norepinephrine, a hormone which increases motor activity, heart rate and blood pressure, and also 

narrows blood vessels. The narrowing of blood vessels 

reduces the flow of blood around the brain and increases 

the risk of rupture which can lead to brain damage. With 

stimulants, deaths usually occur as a result of brain 

damage, heart attacks, and/or overheating. As the heart 

pumps faster, it demands more oxygen and, coupled with 

reduced blood supply, can lead to heart attack. Stimulants also change the dopamine levels in the body, which 

effect body temperature, thus interfering with the body’s 

ability to cool itself. Along with increased motor activity caused by stimulant use, body temperature rises to 

dangerous levels which can result in organ failure and 

ultimately death. Many over-the-counter cold medications 

contain stimulants.
11

the science of pharmaceuticals

Pharm Bowl

Drugs can kill when combined together. A growing trend among today’s youth 

is to attend pharm parties. Admittance to the party requires providing pharmaceuticals, usually illegally obtained from their parents’ home medicine 

cabinets. The pharmaceuticals are combined in a bowl or bag, which is often 

referred to as trail mix. Many times, handfuls of pills are washed down with 

alcohol, producing lethal drug combinations. Similar situations were found 

decades earlier in the 1970s when Manhattan socialites would provide crystal 

candy dishes filled with Quaaludes for the enjoyment of their guests.

How Drug Combinations Can Affect Breathing

Many deaths occur as a result of combinations between drugs 

or medicines that when taken together, can have lethal effects. 

Glutamate and GABA are two chemicals in the body that affect 

breathing. Glutamate is a chemical that works to increase breathing 

(excitatory). GABA is a chemical that works to decrease breathing 

(inhibitory). Normally these two chemical are in balance in the body. 

Alcohol decreases the effects of glutamate, causing breathing to 

slow down. Opioids (such as morphine, codeine and oxycodone) 

increase the effect of GABA, also causing breathing to slow down. 

When combined, the impulse to breathe can be totally suppressed, 

causing death.

University of Utah, Genetic Science Learning Center
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the science of pharmaceuticals

Research, Development and Formulation

Discovery and Development

The search for substances that can heal the body and relieve pain is neverending. One substance ideal for pain relief – Opium – is also highly addictive. 

A major quest for scientists both past and present has been to find a nonaddictive potent pain reliever. Despite intensive and continued research, this 

has yet to be found.

Early Research and Development

For centuries, medicines have been derived from a variety of sources including plants and animals. Researchers have collected herbs, leaves, bark, and 

flowers, as well as insects, and other animal products in the hopes of finding a 

treatment for some illness. Today, scientists continue to collect plant specimens from around the world in the 

hopes of isolating a new medicine. 

Upon collection, the substances are 

tested to see if they can be useful 

for treatment and if so, they are continually refined and tested, placed in 

clinical trials, and then manufactured 

under the current Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines of the Food 

and Drug Administration (FDA).

Research at BYU

Scientists continue to search for potent 

non-addicting pain relievers. At Brigham 

Young University, researchers are studying 

the Japanese tape vine in Australia hoping 

to synthesize a molecule similar to the 

chemical structure of morphine.

The Bayer Company in Germany tried 

unsuccessfully to find a non-addicting 

potent pain reliever. While experimenting 

with morphine, they produced an opiate 

compound that appeared to have the nonaddictive qualities they desired. In 1898, 

Bayer marketed this new compound as a 

cough syrup and pain reliever under the 

trade-name Heroin, only later discovering it 

to be much more addictive than morphine.

Botanical of Opium Poppy 

(circa 1885)
13

the science of pharmaceuticals

Manufacturing

When medicines are manufactured, they have to be formulated to contain 

the correct dosage. Besides the actual medicine, formulation may also 

include other compounds that could be used to control the release of 

the medicine to the body, to assist with uptake into the body, extend the 

shelf life, or mask the taste.

Delivery Methods

Medicines can be delivered into the body via a wide range of 

delivery systems. Because of the addiction and abuse potential 

of opium and its derivatives, there has been recent research on 

developing abuse-resistant delivery systems. Some examples 

are encapsulated pellets, osmotic pumps, packaging, and 

transdermal patches. If the medications are used as directed, 

they are safe. However, if diverted for illegal use, the 

technology can be circumvented by savvy street users.

DEA’s Involvement in the Process

While the majority of the development process is done 

through the FDA, the DEA gets involved in a variety of 

areas. One way is when a drug manufacturer changes 

the formulation of a product to make it less prone to 

abuse and then petitions for a hearing with DEA to 

have the product lowered on the schedule of controlled 

substances. DEA’s forensic scientists put the drug 

through tests to determine if it meets the criteria to be 

lowered on the schedule.

DEA’s Laboratory System

DEA’s forensic chemists analyze pharmaceutical 

preparations submitted from diversion investigators.
the controlled distribution system

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From the passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914 right up 

through modern day, various laws and regulations have been passed 

by federal and state governments to control the manufacture, 

distribution and dispensing of medicines. Today, the 

Controlled 

Substances Act and the DEAOffice of Diversion Control work to ensure that 

medicines are available for the public while no illegal diversion takes place 

within the system. Early Years of 

Pharmaceutical Regulation

Prior to 1900, pharmaceuticals with a potential for abuse were not governed 

by special rules or regulations. By the early 1900s it had become apparent 

that the over-production and unrestricted sale of narcotics was seriously 

undermining the health, social and economic welfare of many persons. The 

Federal Pure Food and Drug Act, passed in 1906, greatly reduced the use of 

narcotics in patent medicines but their easy availability from other sources 

made it clear that some action had to be taken to bring narcotics firmly under 

governmental control and that international regulation of production and distri-

bution would be needed to make domestic control effective.

The country’s first anti-drug laws were enacted in 1914 with the Harrison 

Narcotics Act. This law is known for establishing federal drug law enforcement. 

Essentially, this law was a revenue measure providing for 

the registration and taxation of those who manufactured 

or distributed opium, morphine, heroin, or coca products.

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 placed a tax of $100 per 

ounce on the sale of marijuana, and the Opium Poppy 

Control Act of 1942 made it illegal to grow opium poppies 

without a special license.

The 1930s and 1940s saw significant developments 

in governmental attempts to control narcotics as they 

related to pharmacies. The Uniform Narcotic Drug Act of 

1932 was enacted in many states and it defined narcotic 

drugs as well as made it unlawful for any person to manufacture, possess, 

have under control, sell, prescribe, administer, dispense, or compound any 

narcotic drug except as authorized by the act.

The 1914 Harrison Narcotics Act
15

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In 1968, the President merged the Treasury Department’s Federal Bureau 

of Narcotics (FBN) and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare’s 

Bureau of Drug Abuse Control (BDAC) creating the Bureau of Narcotics 

and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) under the Justice Department. Following the 

passage of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the BNDD recognized the 

need to establish a workforce dedicated to the investigation and regulation of 

legitimately produced controlled substances. This segment of the workforce 

was known as Compliance Investigators, the predecessors of today’s 

Diversion Investigators.

The Controlled Substances Act

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 and the Controlled Substances 

Import and Export Act are the legal foundation of the U.S. Government’s fight 

against the illegal use and distribution of drugs and other substances. These 

laws are a consolidation of numerous previous laws regulating the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, 

anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled 

substances and chemicals.

The CSA places all substances which are regulated under federal law into one 

of five schedules. This placement is based upon the substance’s medical use, 

potential for abuse and safety or potential for addiction. The changing of drugs 

within a schedule can be initiated by DEA, a drug manufacturer, the medical 

community, public interest groups concerned with drug abuse, state and local 

government agencies, or an individual citizen.

Pharmacy prescription files from 

the mid-1900s.

This partial chart shows various drugs, 

their effects, and their place on the 

schedule of controlled substances.
In 2006 DEA employed 621 Diversion 

Investigators who initiated 3,152 

cases, seized 3,777,926 dosage units 

of controlled substances, seized 

$27,114,749 in assets and worked 

672,393 case hours.

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Internet Pharmacies

The rise of the world-wide-web has led to many useful advances in public access to information and products. Making medicines available to the public 

has also become easier. With that ease has come the challenge of making 

sure that the controlled distribution system that regulates “brick and mortar” 

pharmacies and their distribution chain also applies to virtual pharmacies 

operating on the Internet. Many DEA Diversion operations have been launched 

in recent years that have targeted illegal rogue pharmacies and their money 

laundering schemes.

The online pharmacy’s role in the health care system is constantly growing. 

Some Internet pharmacies actually serve a useful purpose by providing 

lower costs, added privacy and convenience. Rogue Internet pharmacies 

can endanger consumers by dispensing “unproven, counterfeit, defective 

or inappropriate drugs.”

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs by pharmaceutical 

companies has likely led to the rise in the popularity of Internet pharmacies. 

Pharmaceutical companies have started aggressive advertising campaigns to 

convince patients they can self-diagnose and self-medicate their ailments.

Examples of direct-to-consumer advertising.

The Role of the Diversion Investigator 

The DEA Diversion Investigator (DI) is the critical link in the enforcement of 

regulations on controlled substances. From routine inspections of pharmacies 

and manufacturing plants, to building cases against complex international 

smuggling organizations, the Diversion Investigator works across the country 

and around the world in partnership with other criminal investigators to 

ensure the controlled distribution system for medicines is maintained. 

DIs work closely with DEA Special Agents and state and local law 

enforcement officers.
17prescription fraud and 

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Laws regulating the availability of medicines and other substances 

were passed in the United States starting at the beginning of the 

20th century. They were put in place in response to growing abuse and 

addiction problems with those substances. Ever since, there have been 

individuals and organizations attempting to sidestep the rules and system 

for both financial gain as well as a need or desire to “get high.”

The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA) assigned legal authority for 

the regulation of controlled substances to the DEA. The statute charges DEA 

with the prevention, detection, and investigation of the diversion of controlled 

substances from legitimate channels, while at the same time ensuring that 

adequate supplies are available to meet legitimate domestic medical, scientific, and industrial needs. The DEA Office of Diversion Control has launched 

many successful operations over the years to arrest traffickers, seize illegally 

obtained assets, shut down rogue pharmacies and ensure that the sale of 

counterfeit or black market products is halted.

One-Two Punch

DEA inflicts upon the illicit drug business what every legal business fears: 

escalating costs, diminishing profits and unreliable suppliers. DEA has 

dismantled major pharmaceutical trafficking and distribution organizations 

through criminal investigations. Also used, is DEA’s regulatory authority, 

subjecting registrants to significant civil fines, licensing restrictions or even 

suspended registrations.

DEA agents and local police seize steroids.

Federal Trafficking Penalties

This chart outlines the various penalties 

for a conviction for trafficking in various 

drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs regulated 

by the DEA Office of Diversion Control are 

listed at the bottom of the chart by their 

schedule number.
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prescription fraud and the Criminal element

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Examples of the websites shut down in 

Operation Gear Grinder.

DEA Diversion Case File:

Operation Gear Grinder 2005 Background

•	Demand for anabolic steroids has been increasing 

in the United States.

•	Easy access to the Internet has fueled on-line 

drug trafficking.

Highlights

•	21-month investigation targeted eight major steroid 

manufacturing companies.

•	82% of the steroids seized in the operation were 

of Mexican origin.

•	All sales from these businesses were conducted 

via the Internet.

•	Estimated combined sales per year exceeded $56 

million dollars.

•	Customer financial transactions were done largely 

by Western Union wire transfers.

Impact

•	Largest steroid bust in history.

•	Identified need to follow up on precursor chemicals 

used to make the steroids.

•	Suspects charged with: Conspiracy to Import Anabolic 

Steroids; Conspiracy to Distribute Anabolic Steroids; 

Conspiracy to Launder Money; and Criminal Forfeiture.

Steroids Confiscated in Operation 

Gear Grinder.
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DEA Diversion Case File:

Operation Raw Deal 2007

Background

•	The global underground trade of anabolic steroids, 

human growth hormone and insulin growth factor has 

been a growing problem in recent years.

•	Raw materials supplied from groups in China were 

shipped to labs in North America and other parts 

of the world.

•	Internet websites and chat rooms have allowed for 

purchases and instruction on the illegal use of these 

controlled substances to flourish.

Highlights

•	Multi-agency 24-month investigation concluded in 

September 2007.

•	Four prong strategy targeting: raw material 

manufacturers; labs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico; 

distribution websites; and Internet discussion boards 

and chat rooms instructing people on how to illicitly 

purchase and use these products.

•	Largest steroid enforcement action in U.S. history.

•	Involved operations in California, Connecticut, 

Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode 

Island.

•	Involved international operations in Australia, Belgium, 

Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Sweden, 

and Thailand.

Impact

•	Arrests of 124 drug traffickers.

•	Seizure of 11.4 million dosage units of steroids and 

242 kilograms of raw steroid powder.

•	Seizure of $16.8 million dollars, 27 pill presses, 

25 vehicles, 71 weapons and 3 boats.

•	Twenty-one pharmacies and 20 physicians had their 

DEA registrations suspended.

Confiscated Items from Operation Raw Deal.
20prescription fraud and 

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DEA and the Science of Diversion

The DEA Office of Diversion Control works very closely with the DEA Office of 

Forensic Sciences and their network of testing laboratories across the United 

States. During any major operation or investigation, DEA Diversion sends 

samples of seized prescription medicines and precursor chemicals to the 

labs for analysis. DEA learns a great deal from the lab analysis, helping close 

a case or identify other individuals for investigation.

Examples of Pill Dies

Different dies or molds are used to 

imprint different patterns or designs 

on the top of the pill. Only the 

manufacturers and traffickers know 

which die or mold is linked to the 

manufacturer – a system for keeping 

track of who is making what drug.

Table-Top Pill Press circa 1950s -1990s

Acquired from defunct pharmaceutical companies or stolen, these machines are used around the world to 

make pills or tablets of drugs. The user has no idea what ingredients were used to make these pills.

DEA Forensic Laboratories 

Across the Country

What began in 1916 with one 

“chief chemist” has today evolved 

into a nationwide network of eight 

regional accredited laboratories. 

DEA scientists analyze most drug 

evidence seized by DEA and other 

federal, state and local police 

agencies.

Forensic Chemists Analyze 

Prescription Drug Samples 

at one of the DEA Labs

Protected by a fume hood and 

eyewear, forensic chemists perform 

special tests to analyze drug 

samples seized by DEA during an 

operation. The results of those tests 

will tell DEA a great deal about the 

drugs seized, including where they 

came from and how they were made.
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diversion of chemicals

The clandestine production of drugs is dependent on the availability 

of chemicals necessary to produce the illicit drugs. Most drugs, with 

the exception of marijuana, require chemicals to be produced. The controls 

placed on chemicals are less than those placed on drugs because most of the 

chemicals have other, legitimate industrial uses. These chemicals are regulated 

under the Controlled Substances Act. An example of these products include 

over-the-counter medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, 

which are found in cold and allergy medicines, but are illicitly used to 

produce methamphetamine.

The DEA Office of Diversion Control is recognized as the premier international 

chemical control authority by governments worldwide as well as international 

organizations, including the United Nations.

The strategy of chemical control offers several advantages over traditional 

drug law enforcement measures. Chemical control offers a means of attacking illicit drug production and disrupting the process before the drugs have 

been made or enter the market.

Acts and Laws Pertaining to 

Chemical Diversion

A variety of acts and laws have been passed to control chemical diversion. 

These include the Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act of 1988, the Domestic Chemical Diversion Control Act of 1993, the Combat Methamphetamine 

Control Act of 1996, the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act of 2000, 

and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) of 2005. The CMEA 

required that the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine be limited, put 

behind the counter, and the purchaser sign a log book when purchasing. This 

restricts the purchasing of products that are used as precursor chemicals for 

the production of methamphetamine.

Examples of barrels of precursor chemicals.

Over-the-Counter Drug Place Cards 

In order to control the distribution of pseudoephedrine, consumers are required to 

take one of these place cards to a pharmacy counter in exchange for the product 

indicated. This became a control mechanism based on the requirements of the 

Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005.
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diversion of chemicals

A cache of precursor chemicals located near a 

South American cocaine processing lab.

DEA Diversion Case File:

Tranquilandia Lab, Colombia (1984)

been wired with electronic tracking devices. After several 

days, the chemicals were traced to a dense jungle area 

in Colombia. The raid conducted against the cocaine lab 

Tranquilandia or “Quiet Village” found a fully equipped cocaine factory. Authorities seized more than 10 tons of cocaine and cocaine base at Tranquilandia and found more 

labs and similar compounds in the surrounding jungle. 

The police destroyed drugs and material estimated to be 

worth more than $1.2 billion.

When an individual from Colombia walked into a chemical 

company office in New Jersey requesting to pay cash for 

nearly two metric tons of ether–an amount equivalent to 

half of all the legitimate ether imports for the entire country of Colombia for 1980–the chemical company notified 

the DEA. Seizing this opportunity, the DEA set up a sting 

operation in Chicago code named Operation Scorpion. 

A front company was established and contacted the 

individual with an offer to fill his order. Seventy-six drums 

of ether were sent to New Orleans. Two of the drums had 
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23diversion of chemicals

A bulk seizure of pseudoephedrine 

found in two vehicles during Operation 

Northern Star under the cover of 

legitimate products such as water and 

bubble gum.

The largest cash seizure in history. 

Two hundred and seven million dollars 

($207,000,000) was seized from 

chemical brokers that were supplying 

chemicals to Mexican cartels to 

manufacture huge quantities of 

methamphetamine- most destined for 

the United States.

DEA Diversion Case Files:

Operations Mountain Express 

(2000-2002) and Northern Star (2003)

Operation Mountain Express I and II targeted 

the domestic diversion of pseudoephedrine, 

primarily by individuals and companies 

registered by DEA to handle controlled 

substances and chemicals. With 

the success of these investigations, 

methamphetamine producers began to find 

it increasingly difficult to obtain sufficient 

quantities of pseudoephedrine domestically. 

As a result, they turned to Canada where 

pseudoephedrine was readily available in 

bulk quantities.

In response, Operation Mountain Express III was initiated 

to address the importation of Canadian pseudoephed-

rine. Over 30 tons of pseudoephedrine was seized during 

the three phases of Operation Mountain Express.

Operation Northern Star continued where Operation 

Mountain Express III left off. Pseudoephedrine brokers 

identified in Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Los Angeles 

arranged for bulk pseudoephedrine shipments from 

Canada, most of which entered the 

U.S. through Detroit in tractor-trailer 

trucks often hidden beneath “cover 

loads” of legitimate products like 

bottled water and bubble gum. 

Over 65 individuals in ten cities 

throughout the United States 

and Canada were arrested during 

Operation Northern Star.
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Pain management generally benefits from a multidisciplinary 

approach that includes pharmacologic measures (pain killers 

such as narcotics, and pain modifiers such as antidepressants 

or anticonvulsants), non-pharmacologic measures (such as 

interventional procedures, physical therapy and physical exercise, 

application of ice and/or heat), and psychological measures 

(such as biofeedback and cognitive therapy).

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain

Acute pain, which occurs with trauma, often has a reversible cause and may 

require only transient measures and correction of the underlying problem. 

Chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in 

the nervous system for weeks, months or even years. Common chronic pain 

complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, 

neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to 

the central nervous system itself), and psychogenic pain (pain not due to 

past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the 

nervous system). American Pain Foundation

Timeline for Pain Management

4000 BC

Opium poppy 

seedpods found 

in Swiss lake 

dwellings may 

have been used for 

dulling the senses.

1500 BC

Caravans from 

ancient China bring 

natural anesthetics 

and soporifics to 

the West.

100 AD

Roman naturalist 

Pliny reports use 

of the “potion of 

the condemned” to 

reduce the pain of 

crucifixion.

1020

Avicenna of Persia 

teaches that 

opium is “the 

most powerful of 

stupefacients.”

1790

Philip Syng Physick, 

the father of 

American surgery, 

occasionally 

bleeds patients 

to near collapse 

to decrease pain 

sensitivity.

1803

Pharmacist 

Friedrich Serturner 

isolates morphine 

from opium.

1830

Napoleon’s 

chief surgeon, 

Dominique-Jean 

Larrey, espouses 

carbon dioxide 

anesthesia to 

induce “suspended 

animation.”
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A History of Pain Relief

In ancient China and India and pre-Colombian America, natural anesthetics 

were used to ease some types of pain, including that associated with surgical 

procedures. In the first century, the Greek physician and naturalist Dioscorides 

suggested that the root of the mandragora plant steeped in wine be given to 

patients before flesh or limbs were cut. It was in 1842 that the first doctor 

administered ether for surgery. 

The Power and Danger of the Internet

In the early 1990s through 2005, it became increasingly easy for persons of 

any age to obtain controlled substances illegally by means of the Internet. 

Numerous websites based in the United States and abroad sell controlled 

substances to anyone willing and able to provide a credit card number. Some 

of these websites do not require a prescription. Others will provide the buyer 

with an illegitimate prescription simply by having the buyer fill out an online 

questionnaire without seeing a physician. In 2008, the Ryan Haight Online 

Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act was passed by Congress and signed 

by the President. This act requires tighter restrictions on Internet 

pharmacy sales.

1850

James Simpson 

experiments with 

chloroform and 

convinces Queen 

Victoria to use it 

during childbirth.

1850s

The hypodermic 

syringe is perfected 

and introduced into 

medical practice.

1884

Sigmund Freud 

believes cocaine 

can combat pain 

and encourages a 

colleague to use it 

for eye surgery.

1895

Heroin is 

synthesized from 

morphine giving a 

more potent but 

more addicting 

pain reliever.

1898

Aspirin is 

synthesized and is 

the first relatively 

safe non-addicting 

pain reliever.

1955

Acetaminophen 

is introduced and 

becomes the 

number one nonprescription pain 

reliever.

1990

Pain relief on 

demand becomes 

more common 

as quality-of-life 

issues supersede 

fear of addiction.

2000-Present

Better understanding 

of brain and nerve 

interactions leads 

to techniques for 

preventing pain 

before the brain can 

recognize it. 

Timeline for Pain Management
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The Standard for Prescribing 

Controlled Substances

Prescriptions for controlled substances must be issued for a legitimate 

medical purpose by a registered physician acting within the usual course 

of professional practice. This should in no way interfere with the legitimate 

practice of medicine or cause any physician to be reluctant to provide 

legitimate pain treatment.

Establishing Standards for Managing Pain

There is a lack of consensus among physicians as to all the circumstances 

that warrant the use of opioids to treat pain. It may be impossible to provide 

an exhaustive and foolproof list of “dos and don’ts’’ when it comes to prescribing controlled substances for pain or any other medical purpose. The courts 

have recognized that there are no definitive criteria laying out precisely what is 

legally permissible, as each patient’s medical situation is unique and must be 

evaluated based on the entirety of the circumstances.

Prescription Bottles

Opioid painkillers now cause more drug 

overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin, 

combined. Center for Disease Control

Incidents of Pain

1⁄4 More than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over – or an 

estimated 76.5 million Americans – report that they have had a problem with 

pain that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration.

1⁄4 Adults age 45-64 years were the most likely to report pain lasting more than 

24 hours (30%). Twenty-five percent (25%) of young adults age 20-44 reported 

pain, and adults age 65 and over were the least likely to report pain (21%).
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How Much Is Too Much?

What constitutes “an inordinately large quantity of controlled substances’’ 

can vary greatly from patient to patient. A particular quantity of a powerful 

Schedule II opioid might be blatantly excessive for the treatment of a 

particular patient’s mild temporary pain, yet insufficient to treat the severe 

unremitting pain of a cancer patient.

Looking to the Future of Pain Management

With an aging population and the development of new and more sophisticated 

chemical substances to manage and treat pain, this issue will not be going 

away any time soon.

1⁄4 More women (27.1%) than men (24.4%) reported that they were in pain.

1⁄4 Non-Hispanic white adults reported pain more often than adults of other 

races and ethnicities (27.8% vs. 22.1% Black or 15.3% Hispanic).

1⁄4 Adults living in families with income less than twice the poverty level 

reported pain more often than higher income adult.

National Center for Health Statistics
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Daniel Katz

Age 25

OxyContin & Cocaine

Ryan Haight

Age 18

Prescription Drugs

Jason Surks

Age 19

Prescription Drugs

Taylor Hooton

Age 17

Steroids & Suicide

Drugs have had a devastating impact on American society for more 

than a century. The human toll of drug abuse–the lost talent and potential of 

those who have died in drug related incidents–is immeasurable. On this page 

are faces of individuals, who have been lost to prescription drug abuse.
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Mark DeMarrero

Age 19

Xanax & Marijuana

Shannon Hungerford

Age 21

Methadone & Zoloft

Rob Garibaldi

Age 24

Steroids & Suicide

Thomas Andrew Marler

Age 23

Prescription Drugs & Heroin

Dustin Wayne Marler

Age 21

Prescription Drugs & Heroin

These pages show just a few of the many lives lost 

to prescription drug abuse that are portrayed in the 

Good Medicine, Bad Behavior museum exhibit.
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discovery corner

Parents’ Corner

Despite recent reductions in teen drug use, increasing numbers of teens are 

using prescribed and over-the-counter medications to get high. It’s a serious 

problem that affects all of us.

Many parents don’t know enough about this problem, and many teens don’t 

understand the dangers of using these medications to get high.

The Parent Toolkit–Helping You to Raise Drug-Free Kids

Raising drug-free kids is no easy task. On the following pages, you’ll find 

practical tips and advice for raising drug-free kids. These tips will help you 

better understand your children, connect with them, protect them, or find out 

what to do if you discover they’re using drugs or alcohol.

Whether you want to better understand your children, connect with them, 

protect them or know what to do if you find out they’re using drugs or alcohol, 

you know, it really all comes down to love. We know you love your children. 

You’re here because you want to protect their health and help them realize 

their future potential. These tips make it a little bit easier for you to keep your 

kids drug-free. You can get a sampling of the toolkit in the following pages.

The latest surveys tell us that:

Nearly one in five (19 percent 

or 4.5 million) teens has tried 

prescription medication (pain 

relievers such as Vicodin® and 

OxyContin®; stimulants like 

Ritalin® and Adderall®) to get high.

One in 10 (10 percent or 

2.4 million) teens report abusing 

cough medicine to get high.

Two in five teens (40 percent or 

9.4 million) agree that Rx medicines, 

even if they are not prescribed by a 

doctor, are “much safer” to use than 

illegal drugs.

Nearly one-third of teens

(31 percent or 7.3 million) believe 

there’s “nothing wrong” with using 

Rx medicines without a prescription 

“once in a while.”

Nearly three out of 10 teens

(29 percent or 6.8 million) believe 

prescription pain relievers–even if 

not prescribed by a doctor–are not 

addictive.

More than half of teens 

(55 percent or 13 million) don’t 

agree strongly that using cough 

medicines to get high is risky.

Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 2006 Partnership Attitude Tracking Survey (PATS)
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Would you like to have a conversation about drugs with your child, but don’t know how to get the conversation 

started? Try these tips from Partnership for a Drug-Free America – www.drugfree.org/parent

Tips to help you get the conversation going

1. Use blocks of time such as after 

dinner, before bedtime, before 

school or on the drive to or 

from school and extracurricular 

activities to talk about drugs and 

why they’re harmful.

2. Take advantage of everyday 

“teachable moments”.

Teachable moments refer to 

using every day events in your 

life to point out things you’d like 

your child to know about.

3. Point out alcohol, tobacco, and 

drug-related situations going on 

in your own neighborhood. If you 

and your child are at the park 

and see a group of kids drinking 

or smoking, use the moment to 

talk about the negative effects of 

alcohol and tobacco.

4. Use newspaper headlines or TV

news stories as a conversation 

starter. The daily news is filled 

with stories that detail the 

consequences of alcohol and 

drug abuse. Talk to your child 

about the mother who used 

drugs and was arrested. Who will 

take care of her baby now? Did 

she make a good decision when 

she used drugs?

5. Watch TV with your kids and 

ask them what they think.

Do the shows and advertising 

make drug use look acceptable 

and routine? Or do they show 

its downside? How did that 

program make your child feel 

about drugs? Write a letter with 

your child to companies or TV 

networks about the messages 

they put out about drugs. 

Also remember that anti-drug 

advertising–such as that from 

the Partnership for a Drug-Free 

America–is a great kickoff to 

discussion.

6. When discussing outside 

events–something on TV or in 

pop culture–ask open-ended 

questions, suggests Dr. Drew, 

physician, board certified 

internist and addiction medicine 

specialist. “‘What do you think 

about that?’ is a great way to 

start. It takes the heat off them– 

and then you have an opportunity 

to share with them your values, 

your ideas and to educate them.”

7. Share stories of people in 

recovery and memorial stories

of those lost to drugs and 

alcohol. Ask your teen their 

thoughts and feelings after 

reading the stories.
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Here are 5 tips to help you help your teen live a healthy, 

drug-free life:

1. Make sure your teen knows your 

rules and the consequences for 

breaking those rules–and, most 

importantly, that you really will 

enforce those consequences 

if the rules are broken. This 

applies to no-use rules about 

tobacco, alcohol and other 

drugs, as well as curfews and 

homework. Research shows 

that kids are less likely to use 

tobacco, alcohol and other drugs 

if their parents have established 

a pattern of setting clear rules 

and consequences for breaking 

those rules. [Guo, Hawkins, Hill, 

and Abbott (2001)] And kids 

who are not regularly monitored 

by their parents are four times 

more likely to use drugs (Metzler, 

Rusby & Biglan, 1999).

2. Let your teen in on all the things 

you find wonderful about him.

He needs to hear a lot of positive 

comments about his life and 

who he is as an individual–and 

not just when he makes the 

basketball team. Positive 

reinforcement can go a long way 

in preventing drug use among 

teens.

3. Show interest–and discuss–

your child’s daily ups and 

downs. You’ll earn your child’s 

trust, learn how to talk to each 

other, and won’t take your child 

by surprise when you voice a 

strong point of view about drugs.

4. Tell your teen about the 

negative effect alcohol, 

tobacco, and other drugs have 

on physical appearance. Teens 

are extremely concerned with 

their physical appearance. Tell 

them about a time you saw a 

friend or acquaintance get sick 

from alcohol–reinforce how 

completely disgusting it was.

5. Don’t just leave your child’s 

anti-drug education up to her 

school. Ask your teen what she’s 

learned about drugs in school 

and then continue with that topic 

or introduce new topics. A few to 

consider: the long-term effects 

that tobacco, alcohol, and 

other drugs have on the human 

body; how and why chemical 

dependence occurs–including 

the unpredictable nature of 

dependency and how it varies 

from person to person; the 

impact of drug use on society–

societal costs of impaired 

health and loss of productivity; 

maintaining a healthy lifestyle; 

positive approaches to stress 

reduction; or setting realistic 

short- and long-term goals.
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Here are 6 tips to help you help your teen continue to live 

a healthy, drug-free life:

1. Don’t speak generally about 

drug and alcohol use–your older 

teen needs to hear detailed 

and reality-driven messages.

Topics worth talking about with 

your teen: using a drug just once 

can have serious permanent 

consequences; can put you in 

risky and dangerous situations; 

anybody can become a chronic 

user or addict; combining drugs 

can have deadly consequences.

2. Emphasize what drug use can 

do to your teen’s future. Discuss 

how drug use can ruin your 

teen’s chance of getting into the 

college she’s been dreaming 

about or landing the perfect job.

3. Challenge your child to be 

a peer leader among his 

friends and to take personal 

responsibility for his actions 

and show others how to do 

the same.

4. Encourage your teen to 

volunteer somewhere that he or 

she can see the impact of drugs 

on your community. Teenagers 

tend to be idealistic and enjoy 

hearing about ways they can 

help make the world a better 

place. Help your teen research 

volunteer opportunities at local 

homeless shelters, hospitals or 

victim services centers.

5. Use news reports as discussion 

openers. If you see a news 

story about an alcohol-related 

car accident, talk to your teen 

about all the victims that an 

accident leaves in its wake. If 

the story is about drugs in your 

community, talk about the ways 

your community has changed as 

drug use has grown.

6. Compliment your teen for the 

all the things she does well and 

for the positive choices she 

makes. Let her know that she 

is seen and appreciated. And 

let her know how you appreciate 

what a good role model she is for 

her younger siblings and other 

kids in the community. Teens 

still care what their parents 

think. Let her know how deeply 

disappointed you would be if she 

started using drugs.
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Here are 5 tips to help you safeguard pills and educate 

your teens about the dangers of abusing Rx medicines:

1. Talk to your teen and warn 

them that taking prescription 

medications without a doctor’s 

supervision can be just as 

dangerous and as potentially 

lethal as taking illicit drugs. 

For example, pain killers are 

made from opioids, the same 

substance as in heroin.

2. Keep medications hidden in 

your home–and out of easily 

accessible places like the 

medicine cabinet. Also, remind 

parents and family members 

whose homes your teen visits to 

keep prescription medications 

out of reach, rather than in the 

medicine cabinet.

3. Ask your healthcare provider if 

any medications prescribed for 

your family have a potential for 

abuse.

4. Take an inventory of Rx and OTC 

medications in your home. Pay 

attention to quantities.

5. If your child needs medications 

during school hours, speak with 

school officials about policies 

for distributing medications to 

students. If possible, personally 

take the medications to the 

school nurse. Make sure unused 

medications are returned to you.
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Family Talking Points:

•	We are here to support you. What can I do to help you 

not use?

•	Sometimes kids use drugs and alcohol because there 

are other issues going on like stress, unhappiness and 

social issues. Have you thought about this? Are there 

other problems you want to talk about?

•	Are your friends using? How are you handling that? Is it 

hard to not use in that environment?

•	We won’t give up on you because we love you. We’re 

going to be on your case until you stop completely. If 

you need professional help, we will be there to support 

you and help make it happen.

•	We are here to make it clear that we will not tolerate any 

drug or alcohol use by you.

•	We have rules in the family. The rules do not permit 

teen drug and alcohol use.

•	Even though you think everyone is using drugs or 

alcohol, it is illegal and not allowable.

•	You can endanger your life and the lives of others. We 

don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I don’t know 

what I’d do if I lost you.

•	We count on you as a family member. Your brothers and 

sisters look up to you and care about you. What would 

they do if you were gone?

•	Drug and alcohol use can ruin your future and chances 

to...graduate, go to college, get a job, and keep your 

driver’s license.
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If Your Child is Using, What Should You Do?

How to Step In and Help

•	Actively listen to anything and everything your child 

has to say in response. The listening step is crucial, 

to establish empathy and to convey that you really 

see and hear your child. If he or she brings up related 

problems, they should be listened to with a promise of 

being addressed separately. Reiterate that what you are 

addressing at the moment is substance abuse, which is 

serious and can be at the core of other problems.

•	Then, to empower your child and get him to think about 

his substance use in a new way, ask him questions 

about what he wants out of his life and how things are 

going with school, his friends, his parents, siblings, job, 

activities, etc. 

•	Prompt your child to consider the link between 

substance use and where her life is not matching up to 

her dreams and wishes.

•	Ask the child–in light of what he or she is concluding 

in this conversation about the substance abuse effect 

on his or her life–to reassess the problem. Set a goal 

for getting well. Together, plan out some concrete 

steps to find information about addiction, recovery and 

resources, and identify any necessary professional 

substance abuse treatment.

•	Understand that the conversation you just had is 

actually a successful “intervention,” a first concrete 

step toward interrupting the progression of the problem 

and getting well. It is a good idea to reiterate again your 

love and caring concern for your child. Acknowledge 

yourselves, knowing that you need and deserve strong 

encouragement and support, and have the power to 

solve this problem together.

Intervention is not always a formal process involving drug 

counselors and group confrontation. Substance abuse 

treatment can actually start right at the kitchen table with 

a conversation. Here are 10 steps you can take right now 

if your child is using drugs: 

•	Discuss–and agree to–a plan of action for your child’s 

substance abuse treatment with your spouse or his 

other parent or guardian. Pick a time to talk to your child 

when he or she is not high or drunk, or extremely upset 

or angry.

•	Make it clear that you love your child, and that by 

bringing up substance abuse treatment you are showing 

your concern for his safety and well-being.

•	Point out to your child that, as parents, it is your job to 

make sure he or she reaches adulthood as safely as 

possible.

•	Spell out the warning signs of alcohol and drug use 

that you’ve observed in your child’s behavior. Use the 

screener results to explain that the problem warrants 

serious attention and family support, as well as 

professional help, because without substance abuse 

treatment it can get out of control and can even be 

fatal. You may want to detail the negative effects of the 

person’s substance use on you and your family but it’s 

important to remain neutral and non-judgmental in tone. 

To sum up the warning signs at this step, you should 

state that the pursuit of substance use despite adverse 

effects on yourself or others is actually the definition of 

“drug addiction.” Don’t press the child to agree on this 

assessment of the problem.
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If You Think They’re Using: Drug Abuse in Teens 13-17

If you’re at all concerned that your teenager is using 

drugs or alcohol, take action right now to help your child 

get back on track to a healthy life.

•	Look for the warning signs of drug or alcohol use or 

addiction. Keep in mind: Most of these symptoms 

tend to be gradual so you need to watch for them over 

time. Don’t jump to conclusions, but do investigate any 

suspicions you have as fully as possible. Trust your 

intuition. Please note: Many of the warning signs for 

teen drug abuse are the same as those for depression 

or for the ups and downs of being a teenager. There’s 

also the possibility it’s a physical or emotional problem.

•	Talk to your teen about drug abuse without going on the 

attack. Also, don’t try to talk with your child if he or she 

seems under the influence. Wait for a calm moment and 

then explain the behavior you’re worried about. Don’t do 

all the talking; give your child the chance to explain his 

behavior.

•	Ask a doctor, mental health professional, or a 

professional substance abuse counselor for help if 

your teen seems evasive or if his or her explanations 

are not convincing. This step will help you rule out 

physical or mental illness. If your child is using, a 

health professional skilled in diagnosing adolescents 

with alcohol or drug problems will help you figure out 

the best addiction intervention program for your teen’s 

needs. Programs for teen drug abuse come in many 

types including self-help, outpatient, inpatient, and 

24-hour hospitalization programs. To find treatment 

programs in your area, call your family doctor, local 

hospital, county mental health society, or school 

counselor for a referral. You can also call 800-662-HELP 

(800-662-4357) or do a search on the Substance 

Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.

•	Get your family the help it needs. Consider personal 

or family counseling. Live or online support groups will 

help you move forward and teach you how to help your 

teen through recovery and into the future. Also, Al-Anon 

and Alateen are support groups that help families and 

friends of people with alcohol problems recover from 

the effects of living with a problem drinker–whether the 

person is still drinking or not. More than likely, someone 

at an Al-Anon meeting knows of a counselor who 

specializes in substance use disorders. 

If Your Child is Using, What Should You Do?
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If You Think They’re Using: Young Adults 18-25

The most important step you can take in addiction intervention for an adult is to speak up and urge him or her to 

get help. This is especially crucial if you notice any of the 

early signs of alcohol or drug dependence, like excessive use and/or drinking at inappropriate times or places 

(e.g., during work or while playing sports), or if they have 

suffered negative consequences as a result of use, such 

as absenteeism from classes or work, or arrests.

Don’t try to determine the severity of your child’s substance problem yourself–urge him or her to get help as 

quickly as possible. As you go through the process of 

helping your child, keep in mind:

•	If your child is experiencing medical or legal crises, 

point to these as examples that show the extent of 

the problem. When the acute impacts of the crisis 

have been alleviated, talk about the need for help. In 

these situations, help has a very good chance of being 

accepted.

•	Resist the urge to enable the substance use to 

continue by rescuing your child from the negative 

consequences without pressuring him to seek help. 

People often decide to change their behavior because 

they experience painful crises. If you rescue your 

child, you will reduce the impact of those experiences. 

Do not tell lies to cover for your 

child’s behavior. Do not let your 

son stay at your home when he’s 

been thrown out of his home. Do not explain to your 

daughter’s boss that her belligerent behavior is not 

really “her” but caused by “stress.”

•	You need to set boundaries. If you think your child has a 

substance use problem, you can start setting limits by 

not allowing drinking or drug use around you. Be clear 

about what behavior you will and will not tolerate. Don’t 

be afraid to set clear rules including 1) Do not come to 

my home drunk, high, or with drugs on you. 2) If you visit 

us when you are high, we will not let you in. 3) None of 

your friends can come here drunk, high, or with drugs on 

them. 4) If you or your friends refuse to leave, we’ll call 

the police.

•	Tell your child that you won’t accept verbal promises 

and that he must take positive action to back up his 

words.

•	Get support for yourself. Al-Anon and/or professional 

help can help give you the confidence to take a firm 

stand with your child–and maintain it for the long haul. 

Also, support will help you take care of yourself–one of 

the most important steps you can take to help your son 

or daughter.

If Your Child is Using, What Should You Do?
in

troduction

discovery corner

39

How to Get Treatment

If your child agrees to treatment, or even agrees to consider it, make connections with a treatment center right 

away. Have phone numbers for alcohol and drug counseling services, physicians who are knowledgeable about 

alcoholism and drug dependence, local hospitals that 

treat alcoholics and addicts, and Alcoholics Anonymous 

and Narcotics Anonymous available and ready.

You may have to be the one to choose the treatment. This 

task may seem daunting, but remember: there are no 

“right” or “wrong” choices, and any health care professional with knowledge of substance use disorders can 

help you. To find treatment programs in your area, call 

your family doctor, local hospital, county mental health 

society, or school counselor for a referral. You can also 

call 800-662-HELP (800-662-4357) or do a search on the 

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator.

Don’t stop there. Remember that agreeing to treatment is 

only the first step toward getting well. Your child will need 

your direct support and steady involvement every step of 

the way if he or she is to get well.

To get more information, including articles, 

tools, videos, and additional resources, please 

visit: The Partnership for a Drug-Free America

http://www.drugfree.org/parent

If Your Child Refuses 

Treatment

If your adult child refuses to go for treatment immediately, 

show your willingness to do anything to help your child get 

treatment in the future. For example, you can say: “I will 

go with you to Twelve Step meetings. I will go with you to 

meet with a physician, counselor, social worker or family 

therapist. I will be involved in whatever way the treatment 

program thinks I could be of most help.”

If all else fails, you may need to withdraw financial and 

emotional support or end all contact with your child. Let 

your child know that you will always be available when he 

or she decides to get help.
40

discovery corner

Online Resources

There are a variety of organizations with many resources 

that address pharmaceutical abuse.

A DEA Resource for Parents

www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com

DEA Office of Diversion Control

www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

www.drugfree.org

Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

Parents: The Anti-Drug

www.theantidrug.com

NIDA – National Institute on Drug Abuse

www.nida.nih.gov

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

Consumer Medicine Education

www.fda.gov/usemedicinesafely

FDA Drug Information

www.fda.gov/cder

National Council on Patient Information 

and Education

www.bemedwise.org

Over-the-Counter Medicines, MedlinePlus, 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

overthecountermedicines.html

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers 

of America (PhRMA)

www.phrma.org/education
41

discovery corner

Teachers’ Corner

Good Medicine, Bad Behavior has outlined standards of 

learning for students in middle and high school. Please 

visit the website below for a detailed listing of the Virginia 

and the National Standards of Learning that apply to 

this exhibit.

www.goodmedicinebadbehavior.org/education

Lesson plans on pharmaceuticals are 

available from several websites:

Medicines in my home

This curriculum is distributed by the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA), and is suitable for students in 

elementary school.

www.fda.gov/medsinmyhome

DARE curriculum for pharmaceuticals

This curriculum is available as an additional lesson 

plan through the D.A.R.E program and has modules for 

middle school and high school. Please contact your local 

D.A.R.E. office to inquire about D.A.R.E. lesson plans for 

the classroom.

www.dare.com

Standards of Learning

Virginia 

Standards

National 

Standards

Health Education Standards

6.1d, 6.2b,d, 

6.4c, 6.6c

7.1b, 7.2c

8.1c,f, 8.5a

9.1c, 9.3a,c,e, 

9.4b, 9.5e

10.1c,d, 10.2f,g, 

10.3a,d, 10.4c,d, 10.5g

NPH.H.5-8.1, 5-8.2, 

5-8.3, 5-8.4,

NPH.H.9-12.1, 9-12.2, 

9-12.3, 9-12.4

History and Social Science

Standards of Learning

USII.1a,b, USII.8b

CE.1a

VUS.1a,h

GOVT.1a

NSS-USH.5-12.7, 

5-12.9, 9-12.10

NSS.WH.5-12.8, 5-12.9

Science Standards of Learning

LS.3, LS.4c, 14a

PS.3b

BIO.4.d, BIO.5.e

NS.5-8.3, 5-8.5, 

5-8.6, 5-8.7

NS.9-12.2, 9-12.3, 

9-12.6, 9-12.7

Computer Technology Standards

C/T 6-8.5 to 8.8,

C/T 9-12.3 to 12.8

NT.K-12.2, 12.3, 

12.5,12.6
42

discovery corner

Glossary of Drug Related Terms

A- Boot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . under the influence of drugs

Agonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . withdrawal symptoms

Amped-out. . . . . . . . . . . . . fatigue after using amphetamines

Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . doctor who writes illegal prescriptions

Backtrack. . . . . . . . . . . . . allow blood to flow back into the needle during injection

Beedies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cigarette from India (resembles marijuana joints/vehicle for other drugs) 

Chipping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . using drugs occasionally

Choo choo. . . . . . . . . . . . . inhaling drugs (huffing)

Dime bag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10 worth of drugs

Doctor shopping. . . . . . . . the practice of going from doctor to doctor to obtain prescriptions for pharmaceuticals

Eight ball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/8 ounce of drugs

Honeymoon. . . . . . . . . . . . early stages of drug use before addiction 

Hype stick. . . . . . . . . . . . . hypodermic needle 

Miss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to inject a drug

Mule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . carrier of drugs

Nickel bag. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5 worth of drugs

Paper bag. . . . . . . . . . . . . container for drugs 

Perc-a-pop. . . . . . . . . . . . . a berry-flavored lozenge containing fentanyl on a stick designed to give relief to cancer 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .patients that is being illegally diverted

Pharming. . . . . . . . . . . . . .consuming a mixture of prescription substances

Piggybacking. . . . . . . . . . . simultaneous injecting of two different drugs 

Pill ladies. . . . . . . . . . . . . female senior citizens who sell OxyContin

Quarter bag. . . . . . . . . . . . $25 worth of drugs

Rave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . party designed to enhance a hallucinogenic experience through music and behavior

Rig. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . equipment used to inject drugs

Robo-tripping. . . . . . . . . . . being under the influence of DXM

Sam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . federal narcotics agent 

Serial speedballing. . . . . . . sequencing cocaine, cough syrup and heroin over a 1 to 2 day period

Skittle-ing. . . . . . . . . . . . . being under the influence of DXM

Skin popping. . . . . . . . . . . injecting drugs under the skin rather than into a vein

Stacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . taking steroids without a prescription

To get roached. . . . . . . . . . under the influence of Rohypnol

Tweaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . drug-induced paranoia; peaking on speed
43

discovery corner

Slang Terms for Various Prescription Drugs

DXM Dextromethorphan 

hydrochloride (Robitussin Pediatric, 

Vicks Formula 44, etc.)

•	Robo

•	Skittles

•	Triple C

•	Tussin

•	Dex

•	Syrup

•	Slang Robe

•	K

Zoloft

•	Z’s

•	Zloft

•	Zoomers

Oxycodone (Oxycontin, 

Percodn, Percocet)

•	Hillbilly Heroin

•	Cotton

•	Killers

•	OCs

•	Oxy

•	OxyCotton

•	Oxy80

•	Percodoms

•	Percs

Ritalin

•	Hyper drug

•	Hyper pill

•	Study Drug

•	Vitamin R

•	West Coast

Fentanyl

•	Apache

•	China White

•	Friend

•	He-man

•	Persian White

•	Tango & Cash

•	Bear

•	Dance Fever

•	Goodfellas

•	Jackpot

•	Poison

•	TNT

•	Fen

•	Great Bear

•	Murder

Prozac

•	Distas

•	Limes

•	Green and 

Whites

•	Pros

•	Greens

•	Zacs

Benzodiazepines Diazepam (Valium) 

Alprazolam (Xanax) flunitrazepam 

(Rohypnol)

•	Downers

•	Goofers

•	Mexican

•	Pingus

•	Relaxers

•	Roach

•	Roofs

•	Ruffies

•	Stupefi

•	Valley Girl

•	Valums

•	Forget Pill

•	Goofballs

•	Qual

•	Reynolds

•	Rope

•	Roples

•	Ruffle

•	Tranqs

•	Valo

•	Yellows

•	Heavely Blues

•	R2

•	Rib

•	Row-shay

•	Run, Trip and fall

Steroids

•	A(s)

•	Arnies

•	Bolic

•	Pumpers

•	Arnolds

•	Bolins

•	Stackers

•	Anabols

•	Balls or Bulls

•	Gym Candy

•	Weight Trainers

Methadone

•	Amidone

•	Fizzies
44 credit

s

The DEA Museum gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the following organizations and 

individuals for supporting the development of this exhibit:

The DEA Museum is committed to providing accurate, vital information. We hope that 

you find this guide useful in discussing with your children and students the dangers of 

prescription drug abuse.

Organizations Individuals Exhibit Advisory Committee

Getty Images

Health Care Logistics

History of Pharmacy Research Center

IMS Health

Library of Congress

Long Island University, Schwartz College 

of Pharmacy and Health

National Center for Health Statistics

National Institute on Drug Abuse

National Sleep Foundation

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

Pharmaceutical Researchers and 

Manufacturers of America

PhRMA

Photos.com

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration

University of Buffalo, Science of 

Addiction Program

University of Florida Brain Institute

University of Utah, Genetic Science 

Learning Center

University of West Virginia, 

School of Pharmacy

American Institute for the History of Pharmacy

American Pharmacists Association

Associated Press

Brigham Young University

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention

Centers for Disease Control

Commonwealth Orthopedics

Corbis

DEA Audio Visual Office

DEA Demand Reduction Office

DEA Graphics

DEA Library

DEA Office of Diversion Control

DEA Office of Forensic Sciences

DEA Office of Public Affairs

DEA Special Operations Division

Department of Health and Human Services

Dittrick Medical History Center

Drug Topics

Families Changing America

Food and Drug Administration History Office

Jim Downs

Michael A. Bozarth

Gary Boggs

Mark Caverly

James Crawford

Dorothy Gail

Erin Hager

Aaron C. Harris

Richard Karasiewski

Susan Kenney

Cindy Lachin

Michael Mapes

Mark Philbrick

Joseph Rannazzisi

Jack Robertson

Michael Turner

William Alden

Peter Bensinger

Robert Bianchi

John Buckley

Ronald W. Buzzeo, RPh

John Coleman, PhD

Mary Irene Cooper

James Crawford

Robert DuPont, PhD

Joel Fries

Thomas Gitchel

Catherine Harnett

James McGivney

Terence J. Riley

Vickie B. Seeger, RPh

Daniel Staffieri

Betsy Willis, EdD

This publication was printed through 

the cooperation and support of

DEA Museum & Visitors Center

700 Army Navy Drive

Arlington, VA 22202

202-307-3463

www.deamuseum.org

www.pharma.org DEA Educational Foundation

700 Army Navy Drive

Arlington, VA 22202

202-307-3463

www.deaeducationalfoundation.org

Drug Enforcement Administration

Mus

& visitors c

eu

ent

m

er

Pentagon City • Arlington, VA