Around 6 million kids ages 2-17 have ADHD. 60% of these children, a total of 3,600,000 students, are on medication for their ADHD. One of the most popular medications is Adderall. 40 million people have been prescribed the stimulant, and while that number may shock you, it’s true. Adults with ADHD also take aderall, as well as many other students and adults who need a boost. Aderall can be extremely helpful for people to focus, and for a lot of students, whether they have ADHD or not, that is a huge benefit. However, these 40 million people may not have access to aderall. This shortage was reported almost a year ago, however, it is getting more severe. Experts on drug shortages are expecting the shortage to get much worse given the start of the school year.
We know that people take aderall, but what really is it? Aderall is a stimulant that works by increasing levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. Since people with ADHD have less dopamine, a chemical in the brain that makes you feel good, we constantly search for stimulation. Aderall helps bring overstimulation to normal stimulation, therefore helping people with ADHD focus, sit still, and feel more in control.
You may wonder, what’s the cause of the shortage? A simple answer – the pandemic. During the pandemic, aderall prescriptions grew by almost ten percent. How did the pandemic affect this? Well, during Covid, people had more time on their hands and could find time for appointments. Online appointments are also easier for people to get. With more appointments happening, more people were diagnosed with ADHD, and prescribed medication. Also, people working and doing school at home had fewer people to hold them accountable than in person, which presented struggles in completing tasks. There is another reason for the shortage that doesn’t have to do with the pandemic. Over the years, research for ADHD has improved significantly, especially in girls. Previously, most girls with ADHD were not diagnosed, because they did not present hyperactive symptoms. Now that research has improved, more people are being diagnosed, therefore more people are taking Aderall.
This issue could get increasingly worse, which would affect millions of people. Without this stimulant, many people will struggle with assignments, work, staying focused, relationships, and many more things.
