TOUGH CHOICES –
Oct. 23, 2023 – The ongoing Adderall issue has been attributed to worker and supply shortages at the Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, which made one out of four branded and generic Adderall pills dispensed at US pharmacies last year.
It is also linked to soaring rates of new prescriptions being doled out during the pandemic when telehealth services proliferated, thanks to Covid-era prescription rule that loosened the criteria.
Adderall is used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and contains a mixture of stimulants amphetamine and dextroamphetamine.
Almost five million American adults use prescription stimulants such as Adderall. In 2021, 41.4 million prescriptions for the drug were dispensed.
People can become reliant on the drug, meaning if they stop taking it suddenly, they feel like they cannot think or function properly.
Withdrawal symptoms can include depression, irritability, headaches, oversleeping, insomnia, tiredness and nightmares.
Britney Spears’ ex, Adnan Ghalib, said he was worried she was taking too much Adderall before she was placed in mental health conservatorship.
