The National Guard Counterdrug Program

Priority

Joint-Personnel

Issue

The opioid epidemic continues to devastate American communities. More than 100,000 Americans die each year from drug overdoses, costing the nation nearly $1.5 trillion annually.

The growing presence of illicit fentanyl has made the crisis even more deadly.
Since 1989, the National Guard Counterdrug Program (CDP) has supported state and local law enforcement in every state and territory, providing intelligence, aviation support, reconnaissance, and community outreach to stop drug trafficking and keep communities safe.

The Mission

Analyst Support – Process, categorize, and evaluate within the defined scope of supported investigations.
Drug Demand Reduction Outreach – Strengthen protective factors, reduce risk factors, and build community capacity to prevent substance misuse before it occurs.
Ground Reconnaissance – Conduct authorized surveillance operations to observe, document, and report suspected drug trafficking activity.
Aerial Reconnaissance – Assist law enforcement partners by identifying movement patterns, routes, and areas of interest across large or difficult-to-access terrain.
Counterdrug Schools – Provide specialized, regionally focused training that strengthens counterdrug capabilities across the United States.