EMPHASIS IS PLACED PRIMARILY ON VIOLATIONS BY WHOLESALERS, RETAILERS, AND MANUFACTURERS. ANALYSIS OF OPA INVESTIGATIONS, PROSECUTIONS, AND SANCTIONS SHOWED WIDE-SCALE VIOLATIONS WHICH COULD BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE MAIN TYPES - DIRECT VIOLATIONS IN THE FORM OF STRAIGHT OVERCEILING CHARGES; INDIRECT OVERCEILING CHARGES INVOLVING THE USE OF EVASIVE PRACTICES TO COVER UP THE VIOLATION AND HAMPER DETECTION; AND VIOLATIONS OF RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THEORIES ADVANCED TO EXPLAIN THIS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR COMPRISE SITUATIONAL REACTIONS TO PRESSURES OF PROFITS, SUPPLIES, AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS SUTHERLAND'S THEORY OF DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION. THIS THEORY IMPLIES THAT THE PERSON HAS ACQUIRED CERTAIN ANTISOCIAL NORMS THROUGH ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER PERSONS WHICH PREDISPOSE HIM TO VIOLATE THE LAW. SEVERAL LIMITATIONS IN SUTHERLAND'S POSITION ARE NOTED, HOWEVER, AND IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THERE CAN BE NO SINGLE EXPLANATION OF OPA VIOLATIONS. ONE AREA RECOMMENDED FOR FUTURE EXAMINATION, THOUGH, IS THE 'LIFE ORGANIZATIONS' OF THE VIOLATORS....ELW