Adderall Shortage 2023: Latest Updates Suggest Situation Could Get Worse

The Adderall shortage 2023 (Photo via Haley Lawrence/Unsplash)
The Adderall shortage 2023 (Photo via Haley Lawrence/Unsplash)

The Adderall shortage 2023 has been alarming for individuals who have been lining up at pharmacies to get their prescription refills. As of February 2023, this is the fifth month of the adderall shortage.


The Adderall shortage 2023 update

It so happens that the US Food and Drug Administration reported in October 2022 about the shortage. The FDA announced that they were continuously in touch with the manufacturers of Adderall (amphetamine mixed salts).

While manufacturers are doing their part in the supply chain, there is just not enough supply to meet the current demands.

Pharmacies began reporting the Adderall shortage 2023 after the summer of 2022. It was said that obtaining the drug had become 64 percent more difficult than it ever was.

The primary reason why obtaining it has become difficult is the immense jump in demand over the years. From 2020 to 2021, there was a 20 percent increase in demand for adderall.

But while the demand for adderall increased given that the rules prescribing the drug were eased, the DEA continued to keep strict rules about the maximum production of the same. The idea was to prevent individuals from overdoing Adderall if there was no cap on the drug’s production.

There’s a good chance this limitation on production will not be modified in the current year, even with the Adderall shortage 2023.

What is Adderall used for?

When will the Adderall shortage end? (Photo via Lance Reis/Unsplash)
When will the Adderall shortage end? (Photo via Lance Reis/Unsplash)

Adderall is beneficial for individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD because it enhances their ability to concentrate and focus by directly stimulating the central nervous system.

Coming to the current situation, it’s been reported that almost six million children (6-17 years old) in the US have reportedly been diagnosed with ADHD. Now, adderall is one of the primary prescription drugs used to control ADHD and is prescribed to almost 62 percent of children in the age group of 6 to 17 years.

On the other hand, almost 11.6 percent of college students are diagnosed with ADHD, and it’s almost 4 percent among adults.

Therefore, it’s understandable how much the Adderall shortage 2023 is affecting the individuals that have a prescription for it. It may not be absolutely necessary for everyone diagnosed with ADHD, but it is important for some, especially with the limitations on cure for ADHD.


Why will the Adderall shortage 2023 persist?

Prescription drugs (Photo via Nathan Dias/Unsplash)
Prescription drugs (Photo via Nathan Dias/Unsplash)

As mentioned, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) keeps a strict tab on the manufacturers. This means that the DEA and the FDA have set certain limits on the number of pills that a pharmacy can dispense at once and the number and frequency of refills anyone can go for.

Additionally, manufacturers have to abide by the limits on active ingredients for the drugs set by the DEA.

The limits are currently usually set by the DEA after studying and analyzing historical data. It uses prescription numbers from previous years to understand how much adderall is needed and then sets the limits.

However, it’s possible that the historical data was not able to predict the massive surge in ADHD diagnosis in women, men, and children, and the increased demand for adderall, especially during the pandemic. Hence, the limits set by the DEA and the demand for the drug are extremely imbalanced.


When will the adderall shortage 2023 end?

As per the current situation, it’s doubtful whether the shortage will come to an end anytime soon. A significant amount of transparency is required between pharmacies, manufacturers, and forecasters to bring the Adderall shortage 2023 to an end.

Unfortunately, this could soon result in a case of public safety given that while the supply of safe adderall is facing a shortage, there’s an immense supply of adderall laced with fentanyl and other dangerous substances that could be fatal.

If people start turning their attention towards adderall substitutes without paying attention to how safe it is, it could result in making the situation worse in the long run. Moreover, children diagnosed with severe ADHD will definitely need any prescribed medication to manage the disorder, and a shortage of an important drug could see the condition worsening with time.

Nevertheless, there are conversations among authorities around the same topic, and everyone with control in their hands is trying to bring the adderall shortage 2023 to an end and potentially avoid a public health crisis.

App download animated image Get the free App now