Shortage of ADHD Medication Leaves Families Struggling to Find Treatment
In Redwood City, California, families are facing a daunting challenge in finding the medication their children with ADHD desperately need. Kristin Coronado, a mother from Redwood City, shared her frustrations with CBS News, stating, “I’m a mother looking for my son’s medication. I’m not a drug dealer. That’s how they make you feel.” Coronado has been pharmacy-hopping in search of the generic version of the drug dexmethylphenidate, known as Focalin XR, which is manufactured by Lannett and contains a controlled substance regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The scarcity of ADHD medications has left patients and doctor’s offices scrambling to find the necessary treatment. Dr. Jennifer Holten, the medical director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic at Emory University, expressed concern about the consequences of untreated ADHD symptoms. She said, “As soon as they’re without medication, you see a return of untreated ADHD symptoms… They take an action that can harm them, or even take their lives.”
Coronado shared her struggle with CBS News, revealing a spreadsheet with 25 local pharmacies she regularly contacts to fill her son’s prescription. She described the exhausting process of counting the pills she has left and starting the search all over again. The demand for ADHD medications has surged not only in the United States but also globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) predicts a 3.1% increase in medical use of amphetamine, methylphenidate, and lisdexamfetamine for ADHD and other related issues by 2024. The FDA attributes this rise to factors such as increased telemedicine prescribing, supply chain issues, manufacturing and quality problems, and business decisions made by manufacturers.
The DEA plays a crucial role in regulating the production of ADHD treatments by setting caps on their annual production. Drug manufacturers argue that the DEA should release more of the controlled substances, while the DEA claims that manufacturers have not fully utilized their supply. Both Lannett and the DEA declined to comment on the matter.
Caught in the middle of this medication shortage are children like Dom, Coronado’s son. Dr. Holten emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue, stating, “These children, these families, deserve better.” Fortunately, Coronado was able to locate a refill for Dom’s medication, providing him with at least another month of treatment.
The shortage of ADHD medication is a pressing concern that affects countless families across the country. It highlights the need for increased collaboration between drug manufacturers, regulatory agencies like the DEA, and healthcare providers to ensure a steady supply of essential medications. The well-being of children with ADHD should be a top priority, and swift action must be taken to address this ongoing issue.