SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – The FDA has placed the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug, Adderall on its official drug shortages list. Experts say illegal use could be to blame.
A Utah college student, who did not want to be identified, says she knows a lot of people her age that use Adderall without a prescription. “People that want a thrill to be happy focused energetic." She says they get it from friends, family and sometimes from others looking to make money.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims 23% of college students nationwide admit to trying it.
Experts say that abuse is now behind an Adderall shortage. Dean Jolley, at Jolley’s Compounding Pharmacy, says when he contacted the manufacturer he was told the materials to make the medication are being limited. “It’s regulated by the FDA and they are putting restrictions on the amount of raw ingredients that are being supplied to the manufacturers. It’s an attempt to try and not have too much in the pipeline throughout the United States so there is less chance of it being abused."
Zack Knettles, is in college, and knows someone with a prescription. "The person who I do know has a very excessive prescription and they acknowledge that.” Knettles says sometimes that person does share with people getting ready for a test.
His fellow student says "When you don't want to sleep or you want to study for hours and hours and you can just it's just awesome."
But the abuse and forced shortage makes parents with children who need the medication angry. Brittney Bettinson has a six year old son who can’t calm down, listen, study, or sleep without his prescription.” Quit abusing the system and let the parents who need it for their kids let them get the help for their kids. "
Jolley say those taking the drug illegally could run into trouble with the law, and their health, including neurological problems from abuse. "You don't want to get addicted, hooked on that buzz, that need to keep going, and then some people will take the opposite, downers, to get them back to normal and then it leads from one thing to another.”
Meanwhile, those with prescriptions hope the supply of their medication will get back to normal. The Adderall shortage is expected to last through 2012. Jolley says like other local pharmacies, his is able to get it, but not always on demand. He says it's important for those who need it to plan ahead, and call head.
