News / Health & Wellness
Our Growing Prescription Drug Shortage
Those with a legitimate need for drugs such as Ritalin or Adderall are having trouble finding them, due in part to growing abuse of the medications.
In an age when prescription meds are often seen as a quick fix and doctors seem more willing than ever to prescribe medication, it’s surprising to discover that some people with legitimate prescriptions are finding it hard to get their hands on the medicine they need to function.
Reported drug shortages nearly tripled in 2010 from 2005, according to The Huffington Post, and more than 80 percent of the products in short supply are generic, according to the IMS Institute, which provides information services for the healthcare industry.
The current drug shortage in the US includes cancer and arthritis drugs, but in the case of ADHD meds like Ritalin and its generic equivalents, some are questioning whether growing abuse is at least in part to blame for the scarcity. Congress has been sufficiently concerned about shortages of ADHD drugs and has even written to two drug companies, in essence asking them to prove they're not manipulating the market by slowing down manufacture of cheaper, generic drugs, The Huffington Post reported.
The shortage has left parents of ADHD sufferers scrambling for Ritalin or Adderall, drugs for which there is an extremely high demand. The popularity of these meds on college campuses as a study aid or party favor is no doubt contributing to the shortage, as is the increasing numbers of children, teens and even adults diagnosed with ADHD. The problem is these drugs are stimulants and controlled substances, so the Drug Enforcement Administration is involved, setting quotas on how much manufacturers can supply. Those numbers don’t necessarily increase in proportion to the number of prescriptions written.
The FDA’s website features a list of drugs currently in short supply, and some people are able to find alternatives by consulting with their physician, but that’s not possible for everyone. Still, the experts warn against ordering medication over the Internet because it is hard to ensure that you’re getting what you pay for.
The problem of supply and demand isn’t going to end anytime soon, but continuing to fight against abuse of prescription meds will help make it more likely that the medications are available for those who truly need them.
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