Medication Shortage For ADHD: Urgent FDA/DEA Action Needed, Is Cannabis An Alternative?

The shortage of stimulant-based ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) medications like Adderall, Vyvanse and Ritalin persists, with leading drug makers unable to provide a solution.

The shortage began in Fall 2022 and was exacerbated by record-high prescription rates.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA), the largest manufacturer of Adderall, cites COVID-induced work shortages as a reason for decreased production and remains reluctant to increase output due to infrastructure limitations.

In 2021, they produced 565 million Adderall tablets, but demand continues to outstrip supply, reported Bloomberg.

ADHD Medication Shortage And Urgent FDA/DEA Action

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports shortages in 141 ADHD medication doses or formulations, with few estimated resolution dates, expecting some availability in mid-October.

The FDA and DEA jointly acknowledged the issue in August, urging drug makers to boost production, but no resolution date was provided.

Manufacturers only sold 70% of their allotted quota, equating to a billion doses not produced or sold. Meanwhile, the FDA and DEA call on stakeholders to ensure responsible access to stimulant medications while evaluating prescription practices.

Cannabis For ADHD

The use of cannabis for ADHD is a complex therapy and its effects can vary widely among individuals. The scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness for ADHD is limited.

Different strains of cannabis contain varying levels of compounds like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), which can have different effects.

Furthermore, people with ADHD have unique brain chemistry as well as responses to substances like cannabis. What works for one person may not work for another. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

Cannabis use, especially in young individuals with developing brains, can have adverse effects and impair functions of concern for people with ADHD.

A study from 2017 published in European Neuropsychopharmacology found that “adults with ADHD may represent a subgroup of individuals who experience a reduction of symptoms and no cognitive impairments following cannabinoid use. While not definitive, this study provides preliminary evidence supporting the self-medication theory of cannabis use in ADHD and the need for further studies of the endocannabinoid system in ADHD.”

Another study from 2018, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research reviewed existing research on the effects of cannabis on ADHD symptoms. Out of 39 studies, only one was a controlled experiment, which showed no significant improvement in ADHD symptoms with cannabis.

According to the study, using cannabis for ADHD is not recommended due to limitations in the research, including small sample sizes and varying definitions of ADHD and cannabis exposure.

A more recent study, from 2023, published by the California Institute of Behavioral Neuroscience & Psychology noted that available data to date are inconclusive regarding whether cannabis consumption has addictive effects or interactions, whether beneficial or harmful.

Their study shed new light on the perceived effects of cannabis on specific symptoms and the potential moderating effects of cannabis on executive function deficits related to ADHD, which have been "largely overlooked" by previous research.

Stay tuned with the latest developments in the cannabis industry, including cannabinoid-based therapies and find new investment opportunities: Join us! at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference which is returning to Chicago this September 27-28 for its 17th edition. 

Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.

Photo by Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash.