The police deaths estimated involved situations where the officers were attempting to enforce drug laws. Officer deaths were not counted if they only involved a killer under the influence of drugs, a killer who was a known or past drug dealer, or a killer in possession of drugs. Only seven officers a year, on average, were murdered in drug-related situations from 1972 through 1988, thus revealing a low risk of death per drug arrest. The most common circumstances in which officers were killed were undercover enforcement and drug raids, usually under a search or arrest warrant. Viewed in terms of total deaths, there is limited evidence of an upward trend in drug-related police deaths; but viewed in terms of the proportion of officer deaths as well as the risk per drug arrest in recent years, there is evidence of a trend toward more drug-related officer deaths. In 1988 there were more such officer deaths than in any year since the FBI began publishing reports in 1972. 3 tables, 3 figures, appended narratives of police killed in drug-related situations, 1972-1988.