Students face ADHD medication shortage

Emilee Norton Staff Reporter

Patients prescribed ADHD medications suffer the prescription shortage by lack of daily functioning abilities.

Over recent years, the rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses has had a consistent upward trend. ADHD is a mental health disorder that, when not treated properly, makes it harder for an individual to complete day-to-day activities. Generally, people who suffer from the condition have a hard time keeping their attention to the task at hand and often can’t sit still or keep things in order in their minds.

Fourth year physiology pre-med and psychology pre-med double major, Geovy Cajamarca, is one of those who are affected by the issue. He has been prescribed to take medications like Adderall (a mixture of the drugs amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) for as long as he can remember.

“Adderall is to be taken as needed, and yeah it helps a lot,”Cajamarca said. “I have been without that prescription for over a month since the pharmacy hasn’t had it due to the shortage.”

After prolonged use of any prescription medication, ceasing to take the drug abruptly or not taking it as it is prescribed on a regular basis can have physical consequences. Headaches, agitation, confusion and other cognitive problems are just a few of those consequences. Physical symptoms aside, not taking the medications patients with ADHD are prescribed can be debilitating for that person on a day-to-day basis. Students face loss of motivation and overall fatigue when attempting to tackle course work and college life as a whole.

“The last time I went to my routine doctor appointment, they let me know that there was a shortage for my Adderall prescription and that there was a good chance I wouldn’t be able to refill it,” Cajamarca said. “I haven’t been able to find what I need at any pharmacy. During the last couple weeks of school, not having my Adderall made it a lot harder to study for finals and get any good work done, it has put some stress on my mental health for sure.”

Students are not the only victims of the issue at hand, as pharmacies across the nation are also being significantly affected. Jeff Morgan, a staff pharmacist at the Owasso Walmart Pharmacy, stated that the pharmacy he works for has been under a lot of stress since the shortage.

“Since March 2022, the shortage has put significant stress on pharmacies and became a very relevant issue at any drug store. It creates a difficult situation for patients and pharmacy associates and demands a portion of our already limited time,” Morgan said.

Although the increasing number of attention deficit diagnoses is a definitive factor for the prescription shortage, pharmacists like Morgan have other opinions of why this has become a significant problem. They believe it is more than likely based on big companies submerged in the fear of losing money. “In my opinion, by far the leading factor is the gigantic settlements against manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers imposed in the wake of the realization that people were dying due to the cavalier promoting and prescribing opioids,” Morgan said. “Manufacturers and wholesalers are limiting pharmacies’ ability to replenish non-opioid controlled substances by cutting them off out of fear of further judgements. Covid is not the reason.” No matter the reasoning, the shortage of ADHD medications or adequate substitutes has forced patients to shop around different pharmacies in hopes of coming across what they need. Pharmacists like Morgan and his associates at the Owasso Walmart Pharmacy note that they work to do all they can to help people get the medications they need, even if it means losing money to rival pharmacies.

“This has become a nationally and locally significant problem requiring patients to forgo their medications altogether or, with the help of their pharmacies, chase prescribers and competing pharmacies to find their meds or a suitable substitute,” Morgan said. When exactly the issue at hand will be resolved is not foreseeable at this time.