There is a national shortage in the United States of Adderall, a stimulant medication that can treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (NASDAQ:TEVA), America’s largest maker of generic Adderall, said it had been experiencing “intermittent backorders” due to “a significant rise in national prescription rates, [which] can cause some constraint to product availability".
It insisted that the disruptions will only be “temporary” and anticipates inventory to recover within a matter of months.
Major pharmacies including Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (NASDAQ:WBA) and CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) have seen “intermittent shortages of generic amphetamine medication in the supply chain”, ABC News reported, adding that staff “will work with patients who are prescribed this medication as needed".
According to the ABC report, one of the main reasons for the constrained supply is the tight regulation surrounding Adderall's classification as a schedule II drug, which is defined as “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence".
Adderall, which is produced from a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, requires a prescription and is a controlled substance, so supply and distribution are monitored.
Labour shortages, supply chain issues and an increase in demand in recent years have all also impacted supply.
Approximately 10% of US children had ADHD as of 2019, according to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with this number potentially having risen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ADHD drugs are also taken by many adults, with a survey in 2013 finding that the number of people aged 26 to 34 taking ADHD medication, including Adderall, had doubled to 2.8% from 1.5% in 2008.