National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a DEA sponsored project that systematically collects results from solid dosage drug analyses conducted by State and local forensic laboratories across the country. NFLIS is a unique source of information for monitoring and understanding drug abuse and trafficking in the United State, including the diversion of legally manufactured drugs into illegal markets. Findings from NFLIS can also supplement existing drug data sources including information from demand-side survey and drug testing programs. NFLIS presents the laboratory results validated by chemical analysis that have highest degree of validity. As such, there are tremendous benefits associated with NFLIS, a national drug forensic laboratory reporting system, that provides timely and detailed analytic results of drug seizures.

Started in September 1997, NFLIS has become a fully operational system and is moving toward full national coverage. Approximately 300 State and local forensic laboratories in the United States perform nearly two million drug analyses each year. As of March 2007, 44 state lab systems and 94 local lab systems representing 274 individual labs, were participating in NFLIS. In 2006, a total of 1.7 million analyzed drug items were reported to NFLIS. Results from the NFLIS can serve multiple audiences, including forensic laboratories, policymakers, local, State, and Federal law enforcement personnel, and researchers. NFLIS results are made available through quarterly and annual reports. These reports provide statistically representative national and regional estimates for the most frequently identified drugs. National case estimates for the most common identified drugs are also presented in the reports. These reports also include findings on major drug categories such as narcotic analgesics, benzodiazepines, club drugs, anabolic steroids, and stimulants.

NFLIS is enhancing DEA resources for carrying out its core mission. The NFLIS data system will improve our ability to track national, regional and local drug patterns, including providing timely and geographically specific information on emerging drug problems. Over the next several years, DEA will seek to expand the NFLIS project to including all State, local, and federal laboratories that perform solid dosage drug analyses.

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