Which federal agency enforces drug laws?

• A. FDA
• B. HHS
• C. DEA
• D. HIPAA

Answer: (C)

Enforcing drug laws is about policing illegal drug activity and upholding the rules that regulate controlled substances. The Drug Enforcement Administration is the federal agency responsible for this role, operating under the Department of Justice to investigate illegal drug production, trafficking, and distribution and to enforce the Controlled Substances Act. The FDA handles the safety, effectiveness, and labeling of medications and medical products, but not the primary enforcement of drug laws. The HHS is a broad health department, not an enforcement agency for drug laws, and HIPAA is a privacy rule protecting health information, not enforcement of drug laws. So the Drug Enforcement Administration is the agency whose job is to enforce drug laws.