More than 15.5 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a significant portion of those taking medication to manage their symptoms are struggling to access their treatments due to drug shortages, a recent report reveals.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a national survey last fall, finding that 6 per cent of U.S. adults currently have an ADHD diagnosis. Over half of these people (56 per cent) were diagnosed in adulthood, indicating that many people live with undiagnosed ADHD until later in life.

ADHD, characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, can have significant impacts on daily functioning. Unfortunately, many people with the condition are not receiving the proper treatment. The CDC report, led by Brooke Staley from the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, states that only about half (50.4 per cent) of adults diagnosed with ADHD had been prescribed medication within the previous 12 months to manage their symptoms.

The primary medications for ADHD treatment are stimulants such as Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, and Concerta. However, a significant challenge for these patients has been accessing these drugs. According to the CDC’s findings, 71.5 per cent of adults who reported using stimulant medication faced difficulty filling their prescriptions in the last year due to unavailability caused by ongoing shortages.

This shortage of ADHD medications presents serious consequences for patients, as proper medication is associated with improved social and emotional well-being, reduced risk of unintentional injuries, lower rates of substance use disorders, and decreased mortality from unnatural causes, the report noted.

As a result, some people may turn to unsafe alternatives, such as buying medication online or through illegal markets, which carries the risk of encountering counterfeit drugs that could contain dangerous substances like fentanyl, the report warned.

ADHD drug shortages have persisted for years, exacerbated by production delays. In October 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first announced a shortage of Adderall due to delays in manufacturing by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. More recently, in September 2024, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration authorized Takeda, the manufacturer of Vyvanse, to increase production as part of efforts to address the ongoing shortage.

Telehealth has emerged as a viable option for many adults with ADHD, with the CDC report noting that 46 per cent of adults with ADHD had used telehealth services, including nearly 10 per cent who received their diagnosis virtually. About 30 per cent of adults received assistance in accessing medications or counselling through telehealth platforms.

These findings were published on October 10 in the CDC’s journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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