While the use of criminal sanctions is primarily aimed at punishing the narcotics offender and perhaps rehabilitating him, the availability of a tort action against such an offender would not only add to existing punitive sanctions through the use of injunctions and contempt proceedings but also create the possibility of collecting monetary damages from the offender. The possibility of such action is based in the concept that the sale of illegal drugs violates certain rights of society as well as invading the sovereignty of the State, such that the State has grounds for protecting collective rights through civil action. A civil suit could be brought against a drug dealer on the basis that such sales violate the general health, morals, and welfare of the people or the 'collective mental tranquility' of society. The issuance of an injuction against the sale of illegal drugs and any subsequent violation of that injunction would lead to contempt proceedings. Judicial decisions bearing upon issues raised by the propsal are discussed. (Author abstract modified)