Traditional drug law enforcement was the responsibility of special narcotics units. The wide availability of crack cocaine greatly increased drug trafficking and the associated problems of drug-related violence, street and property crimes, and growing youth involvement in drug trafficking. In response, new police tactics included multi-jurisdictional task forces, street sweeps and saturation patrols, asset seizures under forfeiture laws, community policing, problem-oriented policing, demand reduction efforts, and organizational changes. Evaluations have not yet determined the effectiveness of these strategies and have had methodological limitations. Further research should focus on the nature of the drug problem, the relationship between drugs and crime, and the long-term effectiveness of law enforcement efforts. In addition, enforcement strategies must consider several ethical and organizational issues including police corruption, geographical displacement of crime into other areas, entrapment, and appropriate goals for drug law enforcement. 22 references