Pennsylvania has been associated with abuse of all types of drugs including Heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Despite intense law enforcement, smuggling and trafficking of drugs remains at an all time high. Besides the smuggling of drugs from outside the state, locally made marijuana, clandestine methamphetamine laboratories and thefts of prescription drugs continue to be a problem all over the state. Banning of precursor chemical like ephedrine has made little impact in the locally manufactured methamphetamine. Recent seizures indicate that Methamphetamine abuse remains a major problem in all counties in the state and data indicate that a newer generation of young females are increasingly using this drug.

Drug trafficking and smuggling is mostly done by the cartels. These groups smuggle in the drugs via automobiles, air and US parcel post services. Philadelphia remains the hub for the distribution of all drugs across the state. Street gangs have established themselves in most inner cities and are not averse to using violence and extortion.

Recent increases in drug overdoses and use among teenagers has led the drug enforcement agencies to maintain an increased vigilance and monitoring of these organizations. Pennsylvanian has one of the harshest illicit drug laws to control the epidemic of drug trafficking.