The first general population survey documenting the abuse of prescription medications occurred in 1970, and subsequent studies demonstrated that the abuse and diversion of amphetamines, opioids, and sedatives has continued to be widespread. During the 1980s and most of the 1990s, prescription drug abuse took a backseat to other more important concerns, such as "freebase" and powder cocaine, the cocaine wars, crack and sex-for-crack exchanges, rising rates of drug-related street crime, and HIV/AIDS among drug users. However, recent surveys suggest that the current outbreak of prescription drug abuse began during the 1990s, and the drug that gained the attention of the media, the government, and the public was OxyContin. Today, the questions of prescription drug abuse and diversion continue to grow. One of the big mysteries about the prescription drug problem appears to be where the drugs are coming from, that is "diversion." However, diversion has been the focus of minimal study, and ideas on the sources of illegal supplies of prescription drugs vary. Suggestions and approaches are presented to help better understand and address the problems of prescription drug abuse and diversion. Through a review of the research, this article outlines the evolving history of prescription drug abuse and diversion. References