The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS)
is a program of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
Diversion Control Division. The program consists of three
components that complement each other to provide a holistic
picture of the drugs analyzed by the U.S. forensic community.
As the most mature data system, the NFLIS-Drug component
systematically collects drug identification results and
associated information from drug cases submitted to and analyzed
by Federal, State, and local forensic laboratories. These
laboratories analyze controlled and noncontrolled substances
secured in law enforcement operations across the country, making
NFLIS-Drug an important resource in monitoring illicit drug use
and trafficking, including the diversion of legally manufactured
pharmaceuticals into illegal markets. NFLIS-Drug includes
information on the specific substance and the characteristics of
drug evidence, such as purity, quantity, and drugs reported in
the same case. These data are used to support drug scheduling
decisions and inform drug policy and drug enforcement initiatives
nationally and in local communities around the country.
In 2019, DEA expanded the NFLIS program to include (1) public and
private toxicology laboratory (NFLIS-Tox)
data regarding postmortem and antemortem toxicological testing
and (2) medical examiner and coroner office (NFLIS-MEC)
data regarding deaths in which drugs were identified. These two
continuous data collection programs complement NFLIS-Drug and
support the DEA's drug regulatory and scheduling efforts.
If your laboratory or MEC office would like to participate in
NFLIS, review DEA's FAQs document to
determine your entity's eligibility to participate in NFLIS and
to review other information about each NFLIS component and the
next steps for participation. You may also contact DEA at NFLIS@dea.gov.
