> We had a big shortage of Aderall recently because the FDA has to give permission ahead of time for a given amount of production of the drug for each company.

> We had a big shortage of Aderall recently because the FDA has to give permission ahead of time for a given amount of production of the drug for each company. As I understand it, the DEA, not the FDA, sets the quotas. They're currently arguing publicly over the shortage: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/health/policy/fda-is-finding-attention-drugs-in-short-supply.html?_r=2 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/01/health/policy/fda-is-findi... The DEA claims there is no shortage (insert Star Wars hand wave here) while the FDA wants them to raise the quotas. (How Soviet does that sound?) No disagreement on the rest of your comment.