Narcotics, barbiturates, and stimulants were all developed by pharmaceutical companies and individuals to help people cope with problems such as pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and obesity. These drugs provide law enforcement with unique problems, because they can be legal in one case and illegal in another. Methods of addressing prescription drug abuse and the diversion of these drugs into illicit traffic include improving communication between law enforcement agencies and developing awareness of the effects and legitimate uses of controlled substances. In addition, multiple copy prescription laws can have major effects, although pharmaceutical companies and the American Medical Association oppose such laws. Finally, none of these efforts can succeed without a major effort to educate the public about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. 6 reference notes