Synthetic, nonnarcotic dangerous drugs -stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens -- are produced mostly in clandestine laboratories or diverted from the legitimate drug distribution system. In spite of concerted efforts by a few Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) field offices which have produced an impressive increase in the number of clandestine laboratory seizures -- 234 in 1980 compared to 33 in 1975 - clandestine laboratories continue to flourish. The battles against illegal laboratory operations is largely failing because (1) the Federal sentencing strategy of achieving the highest possible level of risk for drug trafficking has not been achieved (a situation which could be resolved by increasing the penalties for trafficking to the maximum allowed); (2) the DEA devotes more resources to investigating traffickers in cocaine and, in some cases, cannabis -- both lower priority drugs -- than to investigating traffickers in dangerous drugs; and (3) the DEA is not fully using and developing the precursor liaison program set up in cooperation with chemical and laboratory equipment manufacturers who could supply DEA with names of customers or information on their automobiles. Appended are criteria by which drugs are scheduled, a comparison of domestic laboratory seizures for 1975-80, and comments on the report from the Assistant Attorney General for Administration. Tabular data are provided.