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The problem of drug abuse results'in many cases with victims suffering monetary loss. Drug abuse contributes to the cost spiral in three ways: (1) the human cost of people (especially Ju~eniles) victimized by drugs; (2) dollar cost of arrests, trials, etc.; (3) burglaries and thefts by drug abusers. In 1973, the Orange County felony drug arrest rate was higher than the non-drug arrest. The Orange County Drug and Narcotic Task Force was founded in November, 1970. The narcotic details of 22 municipal police departments in Orange County are members as well as the Sheriff's Department, and the State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE - Department of Justice). Other members include the D.E.A., Orange County Harbor Patrol, Orange County Airport Security and the Orange County Probation Department. Close liaison is maintained by the Task Force Coordinator with all of these agencies as well as law enforcement agencies throughout the Southern California area. Through the elimination of duplication of effort and the promoting of good will among the narcotic officers from each of these agencies, the Task Force has made remarkable progress toward the ultimate goal of removing the narcotic trafficker from the community. In January, 1972, the Coordinator of the Task Force initiated a record keeping system itemizing the results of the Task Force investigations. The emphasis by Task Force members was placed on destroying organized groups conspiring to violate the state narcotic laws. While working on Task Force investigations, individual agencies still maintain the responsibility of policing their own Jurisdictions regarding local narcotic problems. To assist them in this area, the Task Force Coordinator (an Orange County District Attorney's Investigator assigned full time to this functiun) is avail'able gay or night to provide advice and assistance. Two deputy district attorney's assigned to the Task Force are also available day or night for search warrant preparation and legal advice. Ail of the Police Chiefs were contacted within the county, as was the Sheriff, and each gave his permission, in writing, for officers in another Jurisdiction to conduct investigations in his city as long as prior notification was received. lla