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The DEA put Adderall on its list of the most abused medication, and limits production of it and investigates doctors who prescribe too much of it. This is a res

The DEA put Adderall on its list of the most abused medication, and limits production of it and investigates doctors who prescribe too much of it. This is a response to the problems with the abuse of legal opiates a decade ago- the DEA now takes potential abuse of legal drugs much more seriously and adderall (an amphetamine- it's a cousin of meth) is at a high risk of abuse. Your psychiatrist is trying to deal with the DEA monitoring, and doesn't want to be the one who first puts you on it, but continuing an existing Rx is not treated the same by the DEA, as I understand it. So the online doc is putting her license more at risk to a DEA investigation, but your in-person doctor is less exposed. N.B. this is how I understand the things that my wife has said to me. She is actually a pharmacist who has to deal with these things, and I might have garbled something.

unethical_ban 1y ago
You're right, and the situation is a harm to those who need adderall. Besides, adderall is not nearly as dangerous as Opiods. Whoopty-doo if it's diet Coke. This is why, even though I don't like Adderall's side effects for my ADHD and don't use it often, I keep the prescription, because fuck the government trying to squeeze pharmacists and doctors.
- chipsrafferty 1y ago
  So even though there's a shortage, you're keeping your prescription to "fuck the government" but actually only fucking someone who needs it and cannot get it?
- LoganDark 1y ago
  Yep. No matter how long I've been taking my ADHD meds, I can just stop them at any time. I'll sleep for a while (I think my record is 25 hours of sleep), but that's it. No life-threatening withdrawals. No panic. No pain. Safer than any opioid (except perhaps naloxone?).
  - mithametacs 1y ago
    The withdrawals are fucking garbage from even mild abuse (3x prescribed). I passed out and cut my head. And was anhedonic. And lethargic. And I started taking it as an adult. So I had 4 or 5 ADHD diagnoses under my belt.
hnthrowaway847 1y ago
I wouldn’t be surprised if this study were funded by some pharmaceutical lobbying shell organization. I was on various forms of prescribed amphetimines for years and developed paranoia. It took me a few years to somewhat recover. My family has PTSD about that period of my life. I can’t think or communicate well anymore. Fuck that industry.
- neuronexmachina 1y ago
  > I wouldn’t be surprised if this study were funded by some pharmaceutical lobbying shell organization. Funding info is at the bottom of the article, the project was primarily funded by the Swedish government.
  - vbril 1y ago
    Also in that section: > LZ is supported by ìShizu Matsumuraîs Donation (2024-02228) and KI Research Grants (024-02570). LL was supported by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (20230452), the Söderström König Foundation, and Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse. BD was supported by a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). SC, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) research professor (NIHR303122), is funded by the NIHR for this research project. It may be none of them. It may be all of them. There could be corruption. There could be subtle manipulation. You have no idea how much money there is in the industry. They make things happen. Some in the medical profession believe that these abused drugs are safe for their patients. Others know better but they still prescribe them. Some pharmacists will tell you that they’re good for your brain because they increase blood flow, because that’s what they’ve been sold by the reps and the studies they’re fed.
    - intended 1y ago
      The fear over a paper, which can be studied and evaluated, is much higher than it need be. It would be something else if it were a media release, advertisement, or an actual compound being lauded.
- astrange 1y ago
tstrimple 1y ago
> the DEA now takes potential abuse of legal drugs much more seriously and adderall (an amphetamine- it's a cousin of meth) is at a high risk of abuse. I know that I process Adderall differently having ADHD, but I still struggle to see how it's used recreationally. I took it somewhat consistently for over a year for ADHD treatment until I missed an appointment and couldn't get around to scheduling another before my prescription ran out. After that getting back on became more trouble than it was worth. Not once did I ever feel a high from Adderall. My best naps were on Adderall. Not once after dropping it did I ever feel withdrawals or the urge to take more. The only thing I felt while taking it was constant dry mouth and my brain no longer constantly jumped between topics outside of my control. My brother abuses controlled substances. When I told him I was taking Adderall he warned me to be careful and talked about his issues with it and I just couldn't relate at all. I'm no stranger to addiction. I'm an alcoholic and am addicted to nicotine via fruity vapes. But Adderall? Nothing at all.
- idiotsecant 1y ago
  Yes. Some brains react to some stimulants differently. That's the whole reason ADHD can be treated with Adderall.
  - astrange 1y ago
    This isn't true, it affects everyone the same way. But you could say the optimal dosage is different for different people. I think people just like saying this because they're afraid stimulants will get banned otherwise.
    - wafflemaker 1y ago
      All drugs affect everyone differently. Something that's ok with you can literally kill someone else - simple example - smoking weed with someone that has some lung disease. That's why just having them illegal makes them 100x more dangerous. Through less knowledge among users, no guidance on packaging and difficult to identify the substance if someone had to be taken to the hospital.
    - 1y ago
lysp 1y ago
> The DEA put Adderall on its list of the most abused medication, and limits production of it and investigates doctors who prescribe too much of it. The other thing on top of limiting its production, it's not just for the US, it's worldwide. Australia has a shortage of various types of ADHD medication due to this DEA production limit too. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-major-medicine-shortages/about-shortage-methylphenidate-hydrochloride-products https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-ma... Also, the Australian Government requested increased production to cover these shortages, and the DEA rejected that request. So those limitations have a worldwide effect due to the US being one of only a few countries that produce these drugs.
- bawolff 1y ago
  Is there something stopping other countries from spinning up a factory?
  - unmole 1y ago
    - Supply chains - Skilled workforce - Risk capital - Regulatory overhead
    - bawolff 1y ago
      Other drugs are made outside the USA, what is so special about adderal (besides us regulations which other countries dont have to listen to)
      - claudex 1y ago
        Maybe it's just that the cost to set up the production elsewhere is too much for the expected market. The shortage of the drugs doesn't mean there will be enough buyer to cover the cost (and make enough profit).
      - bratwurst3000 1y ago
        the article is about methylphenydat (ritalin) and not adderall. Amphetamie is such an easy molekul, stepping up production should be super easy.
ljf 1y ago
I found this article about the steps the DEA are taking, really interesting https://www.catherinemccarthymd.com/med-shortage-news-1/the-empty-adderall-factory https://www.catherinemccarthymd.com/med-shortage-news-1/the-...
99_00 1y ago
All abuse is bad. Some abuses are worse than others. What abuse are they seeing with adderall? What I hear in casual conversations is that people are abusing it to learn things. Is that what the DEA was seeing too?
- graemep 1y ago
  Yes, it is most commonly used a study drug. It is a strong stimulant (more like cocaine than like coffee) and potentially addictive so potentially dangerous and requires medical supervision. it is a formulation of amphetamine.
  - 99_00 1y ago
    It can't be as appealing and addictive as cocaine but most commonly be abused as a study drug and have recreational use be much less common. It would never happen. So it must be much less appealing than cocaine.
  - adastra22 1y ago
    I didn't realize studying was a crime.
    - graemep 1y ago
      Using controlled substances to study is a crime. Working is not a crime either, but using cocaine to be able to work harder is a crime.
      - lazide 1y ago
        wall street looking around nervously. Oh who am I kidding, no one cares about that one.
  - notfromhere 1y ago
    You aren’t really going to get addicted to therapeutic doses. Recreational doses are like 5-10x what a doctor would prescribe, with restrictive laws in the U.S. you can only get a months supply at a time. Would be pretty dumb to use your months dosage for 3 days of partying
phendrenad2 1y ago
The DEA is a runaway paperclip maximizer[1]. Their directive is "prevent drug abuse", and they will continue to pursue that goal to the detriment of everything else. There is ZERO feedback loop here. You need to build that feedback loop of you want one. It's your government, shape it how you want it. [1] - https://hackernoon.com/the-parable-of-the-paperclip-maximizer-3ed4cccc669a https://hackernoon.com/the-parable-of-the-paperclip-maximize...

unethical_ban 1y ago

You're right, and the situation is a harm to those who need adderall. Besides, adderall is not nearly as dangerous as Opiods. Whoopty-doo if it's diet Coke. This is why, even though I don't like Adderall's side effects for my ADHD and don't use it often, I keep the prescription, because fuck the government trying to squeeze pharmacists and doctors.

chipsrafferty 1y ago
So even though there's a shortage, you're keeping your prescription to "fuck the government" but actually only fucking someone who needs it and cannot get it?
LoganDark 1y ago
Yep. No matter how long I've been taking my ADHD meds, I can just stop them at any time. I'll sleep for a while (I think my record is 25 hours of sleep), but that's it. No life-threatening withdrawals. No panic. No pain. Safer than any opioid (except perhaps naloxone?).
- mithametacs 1y ago
  The withdrawals are fucking garbage from even mild abuse (3x prescribed). I passed out and cut my head. And was anhedonic. And lethargic. And I started taking it as an adult. So I had 4 or 5 ADHD diagnoses under my belt.

hnthrowaway847 1y ago

I wouldn’t be surprised if this study were funded by some pharmaceutical lobbying shell organization. I was on various forms of prescribed amphetimines for years and developed paranoia. It took me a few years to somewhat recover. My family has PTSD about that period of my life. I can’t think or communicate well anymore. Fuck that industry.

neuronexmachina 1y ago
> I wouldn’t be surprised if this study were funded by some pharmaceutical lobbying shell organization. Funding info is at the bottom of the article, the project was primarily funded by the Swedish government.
- vbril 1y ago
  Also in that section: > LZ is supported by ìShizu Matsumuraîs Donation (2024-02228) and KI Research Grants (024-02570). LL was supported by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (20230452), the Söderström König Foundation, and Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse. BD was supported by a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). SC, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) research professor (NIHR303122), is funded by the NIHR for this research project. It may be none of them. It may be all of them. There could be corruption. There could be subtle manipulation. You have no idea how much money there is in the industry. They make things happen. Some in the medical profession believe that these abused drugs are safe for their patients. Others know better but they still prescribe them. Some pharmacists will tell you that they’re good for your brain because they increase blood flow, because that’s what they’ve been sold by the reps and the studies they’re fed.
  - intended 1y ago
    The fear over a paper, which can be studied and evaluated, is much higher than it need be. It would be something else if it were a media release, advertisement, or an actual compound being lauded.
astrange 1y ago

tstrimple 1y ago

> the DEA now takes potential abuse of legal drugs much more seriously and adderall (an amphetamine- it's a cousin of meth) is at a high risk of abuse. I know that I process Adderall differently having ADHD, but I still struggle to see how it's used recreationally. I took it somewhat consistently for over a year for ADHD treatment until I missed an appointment and couldn't get around to scheduling another before my prescription ran out. After that getting back on became more trouble than it was worth. Not once did I ever feel a high from Adderall. My best naps were on Adderall. Not once after dropping it did I ever feel withdrawals or the urge to take more. The only thing I felt while taking it was constant dry mouth and my brain no longer constantly jumped between topics outside of my control. My brother abuses controlled substances. When I told him I was taking Adderall he warned me to be careful and talked about his issues with it and I just couldn't relate at all. I'm no stranger to addiction. I'm an alcoholic and am addicted to nicotine via fruity vapes. But Adderall? Nothing at all.

idiotsecant 1y ago
Yes. Some brains react to some stimulants differently. That's the whole reason ADHD can be treated with Adderall.
- astrange 1y ago
  This isn't true, it affects everyone the same way. But you could say the optimal dosage is different for different people. I think people just like saying this because they're afraid stimulants will get banned otherwise.
  - wafflemaker 1y ago
    All drugs affect everyone differently. Something that's ok with you can literally kill someone else - simple example - smoking weed with someone that has some lung disease. That's why just having them illegal makes them 100x more dangerous. Through less knowledge among users, no guidance on packaging and difficult to identify the substance if someone had to be taken to the hospital.
  - 1y ago

lysp 1y ago

> The DEA put Adderall on its list of the most abused medication, and limits production of it and investigates doctors who prescribe too much of it. The other thing on top of limiting its production, it's not just for the US, it's worldwide. Australia has a shortage of various types of ADHD medication due to this DEA production limit too. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-major-medicine-shortages/about-shortage-methylphenidate-hydrochloride-products https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-ma... Also, the Australian Government requested increased production to cover these shortages, and the DEA rejected that request. So those limitations have a worldwide effect due to the US being one of only a few countries that produce these drugs.

bawolff 1y ago
Is there something stopping other countries from spinning up a factory?
- unmole 1y ago
  - Supply chains - Skilled workforce - Risk capital - Regulatory overhead
  - bawolff 1y ago
    Other drugs are made outside the USA, what is so special about adderal (besides us regulations which other countries dont have to listen to)
    - claudex 1y ago
      Maybe it's just that the cost to set up the production elsewhere is too much for the expected market. The shortage of the drugs doesn't mean there will be enough buyer to cover the cost (and make enough profit).
    - bratwurst3000 1y ago
      the article is about methylphenydat (ritalin) and not adderall. Amphetamie is such an easy molekul, stepping up production should be super easy.

ljf 1y ago

I found this article about the steps the DEA are taking, really interesting https://www.catherinemccarthymd.com/med-shortage-news-1/the-empty-adderall-factory https://www.catherinemccarthymd.com/med-shortage-news-1/the-...

99_00 1y ago

All abuse is bad. Some abuses are worse than others. What abuse are they seeing with adderall? What I hear in casual conversations is that people are abusing it to learn things. Is that what the DEA was seeing too?

graemep 1y ago
Yes, it is most commonly used a study drug. It is a strong stimulant (more like cocaine than like coffee) and potentially addictive so potentially dangerous and requires medical supervision. it is a formulation of amphetamine.
- 99_00 1y ago
  It can't be as appealing and addictive as cocaine but most commonly be abused as a study drug and have recreational use be much less common. It would never happen. So it must be much less appealing than cocaine.
- adastra22 1y ago
  I didn't realize studying was a crime.
  - graemep 1y ago
    Using controlled substances to study is a crime. Working is not a crime either, but using cocaine to be able to work harder is a crime.
    - lazide 1y ago
      wall street looking around nervously. Oh who am I kidding, no one cares about that one.
- notfromhere 1y ago
  You aren’t really going to get addicted to therapeutic doses. Recreational doses are like 5-10x what a doctor would prescribe, with restrictive laws in the U.S. you can only get a months supply at a time. Would be pretty dumb to use your months dosage for 3 days of partying

phendrenad2 1y ago

The DEA is a runaway paperclip maximizer[1]. Their directive is "prevent drug abuse", and they will continue to pursue that goal to the detriment of everything else. There is ZERO feedback loop here. You need to build that feedback loop of you want one. It's your government, shape it how you want it. [1] - https://hackernoon.com/the-parable-of-the-paperclip-maximizer-3ed4cccc669a https://hackernoon.com/the-parable-of-the-paperclip-maximize...