Why the Adderall shortage has lasted so long

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Easing the Adderall shortage isn't as simple as making more of the drug By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent If you’re not immersed in the world of pharmaceutical manufacturing, it can be hard to understand why drug shortages—like the one currently affecting Adderall—seem to drag on forever. If there isn’t enough to go around, why don’t drug companies simply make more? Turns out it’s a lot more complicated than that. Medication manufacturing is a multi-step process that involves sourcing raw materials, processing those ingredients, and then putting on finishes touches to get them ready for consumers to use. Scaling up all those steps at once is challenging, especially for a controlled substance like Adderall. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Adm inistrationlimits the amount of Adderall that can be made each year in hopes of curtailing illicit sales and use, which some drug companies have said is a factor in the current shortage. Ending a shortage isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. But some Adderall manufacturers expect additional supplies to be available this spring, which experts told me is a promising sign. READ MORE   Share This Story

What Else to Read FDA Clears Second Bivalent COVID-19 Booster for People 65 and Older By Lauran Neergaard/AP Older adults can get another bivalent booster at least four months after their first dose, the FDA says. Read More » How Doctors Inadvertently Fat-Shame Kids By Virginia Sole-Smith Pediatricians need to know how much kids weigh, at least periodically. But often they bring their anti-fat bias to the exam room. Read More » The Best Exercises to Sneak Into Your Workday By Pam Moore Here are three easy ways to move more during work. (Originally published in 2021.) Read More » Can Cannabis Help Your Gut? By Stacey Colino It's not a panacea for gastrointestinal disorders, but it eases some patients' symptoms. (Originally published in 2021.) Read More »

AN EXPERT VOICE "Humor is a powerful tool in terms of lightening our load—it helps us release enough of the pressure so daily stressors become more manageable." —Kate Nichols, psychotherapist based in New Jersey

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