DEA

Though there are few fistfights or gunfights, the DEA agents are often shown raiding suspects' homes. These raids typically start by battering down the front door and rushing inside with guns drawn and are quite intimidating. Suspects are later shown in handcuffs, sometimes on the ground.

Both the agents and the suspects frequently swear in everyday conversation, but the strongest words are bleeped. Some conversations appear in subtitles, with some of the words marked with dashes, including "s--t" and "f--k."

The DEA's mission is to eliminate drug trafficking, and every episode focuses on finding and arresting dealers. There's plenty of discussion of drugs, and the real thing is often displayed after raids on suspects' homes, sometimes in very large quantities. As part of their investigations, the team must document deals, and some are shown on camera. Many of the suspects are high when the agents burst in on them.

Parents need to know that this reality show glamorizes the difficult -- and very dangerous -- job of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. Team members are shown breaking down the doors of drug dealers' homes and rushing in, guns drawn, to arrest suspects. Viewers see plenty of real dealers, real deals, and lots of real drugs. The series makes the agents' day-to-day activities seem exciting and important, but the show makes little effort to discuss the big picture -- such as why so many of the dealers are poor, or whether arresting them will actually have much impact on the international drug trade.