The Food and Drug Administration has been receiving hundreds of complaints daily, from patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), that pharmacies are not able to fill their prescriptions. The shortages stem from the back and forth relationship of drug companies trying to maximize their profits and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) trying to minimize abuse of the drugs.  Those who suffer are the millions of children and adults that rely on the pills everyday to stay focused and calm. These shortages, particularly of the cheaper generic versions of the drugs, have caused patients constant worry about the availability of the medicine they depend on.

According to the New York Times, “Every year, the D.E.A. accepts applications from manufacturers to make the drugs, analyzes how much was sold the previous year and then allots portions of the expected demand to various companies. How each manufacturer divides its quota among its own A.D.H.D. medicines — preparing some as high-priced brands and others as cheaper generics — is left up to the company”.  Now manufactures are reporting widespread shortages of drugs that treat ADHD and these shortages are particularly devastating for those who cannot afford to buy the brand name drug over the generic versions.

The FDA believes that the shortages are a result of overly strict quotas set by the DEA, but the DEA contends that the supply is plentiful due to the fact that there are a number of name brand drugs readily available.  The DEA questions whether the shortages are legitimate or if the drug manufacturers just choose to make more of the expensive name brand pills over the cheaper generics, creating an imbalance in the supply and demand.