This guidebook is the result of a joint effort between the Learning for Life (LFL) Law Enforcement Exploring Program and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Law Enforcement Exploring is a program for young adults who are interested in law enforcement as a career. They belong to posts which are sponsored by police and sheriff's departments around the country, as well as by federal agencies.

By following the suggestions in this book, Explorers can qualify for program recognitions such as the drug prevention proficiency award (individual) or the DEA Drug Abuse Prevention Service Award (post). They can also work to improve our country.

Although the DEA is best known for dismantling major drug trafficking rings, it also is a leader among federal agencies in prevention and education programs. The Demand Reduction Section, which carries out this side of DEA's work, tailors programs for schools, the workplace and community organizations to help Americans make the right choice about illegal substances.

Programs fashioned by the Demand Reduction Section staff of DEA Headquarters are put into practice by DEA Special Agents who work full-time as Demand Reduction Coordinators in major cities throughout the nation.

DEA regards the Explorer program as an opportunity to acquaint intelligent, motivated young people with what goes on inside a proud federal law enforcement agency. If you are a young man or woman thinking seriously about law enforcement as a career, you should be thinking DEA.

The most visible DEA employees, of course, are Special Agents. But there are three other core specialties: Diversion Investigator, Intelligence Analyst, and Chemist. And beyond them, literally dozens of other occupations. A broad array of skills figure in the agency's success.

To learn more about DEA career opportunities, write Office of Personnel, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C. 20537.

Sincerely, Administrator Drug Enforcement Administration

Download the full version of "Drug Abuse Prevention for Explorers: A Guidebook" here as a PDF.