ABSTRACT
This article discusses the causes, implications and solutions for the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication shortage crisis. General physicians, psychiatrists, neurologists, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals prescribe stimulants to substantially eliminate symptoms of ADHD. The use of stimulants has been creeping up among the US population for the last several decades. There has been a sharp increase of prescriptive stimulants since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. The supply of name brand stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, Ritalin, Foclin etc.) as well as their generic counterparts (Amphetamines, Lisdexamfetamine, Methylphenidate and others) did not keep pace with the demand. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the government agencies, have classified these prescriptive stimulants as Schedule II controlled substances and have strict mechanisms to allocate production quotas to different pharmaceuticals, inspection of manufacturing processes, and distribution of these controlled substances. The demand was beyond expectations that resulted in misallocation of quotas, unavailability of raw materials, contamination in production process, and other supply chain issues contributed to the shortage of these medicines. The extended periods without the medicines negatively affect patients' learning, behavioral, physical, and mental wellbeing. Market based supply solutions should be implemented by DEA to alleviate suffering caused by unavailability of ADHD medicines.
Keywords
ADHD, DEA/FDA, Stimulants, Adderall, Vyvanse, Concerta, Ritalin, Foclin, Amphetamines, Lisdexamfetamine, Methylphenidate.