One in eight Americans are now addicted to Adderall after Covid pandemic policies during the Trump administration made the powerful stimulant available online with just a few clicks.
The federal government relaxed prescription drug regulations in March 2020, just as the virus broke out in the United States, and allowed telemedicine companies to sell the drug online without in-person consultations.
The goal was to keep people away from hospitals and doctors’ offices, while ensuring access to medicine. But it inadvertently created a booming market for start-ups, who brazenly touted their “60-second reviews” and aggressively marketed the drug on social media.
It is estimated that about 41 million Americans now have a prescription for Adderall, a 16 percent increase from before the Covid outbreak. Four million new patients received prescriptions last year, double the year before.
Millions of these patients are children and young adults. It is estimated that up to 10 percent of school children and a third of school students use drugs.
Adderall prescriptions have steadily increased over the past 12 years. Numbers include prescriptions for Adderall, both brand and generic, in the US
Telehealth company Done ran ads with pictures of pills promising quick ADHD diagnosis
A mother whose 21-year-old son killed himself while playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun and high on Adderall says he was able to lie to telemedicine providers to get the drug despite a range of mental health issues. who should have raised red flags .
Adderall is a Schedule II drug — the same category reserved for opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone — meaning it has a “high potential for abuse, with use potentially resulting in severe psychological or physical dependence.”
The drug is a combination of two stimulants, dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, used to treat patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
These stimulants increase activity in the central nervous system, which controls the pathways in your brain and spinal cord that are responsible for most body functions.
Experts believe that ADHD is caused by an imbalance in the hormones dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.
A lack of these hormones can lead to symptoms such as poor concentration and low motivation.
Adderall works by causing the brain to release extreme amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine.
A separate, colorful ad on Instagram features ice cream cones and encourages patients to eat sugary snacks every 30 minutes while taking the drug
ADHD overprescribing could be as bad as OPIOID CRISIS, DEA says
The DEA compared the factors that led to Adderall overprescribing to those behind the opioid crisis.
But it can be dangerous if misused and overused. If a high enough dose is taken, the user will experience a euphoria similar to that of Molly or MDMA.
Adderall can cause sudden death or stroke in children and adults, especially those with heart abnormalities or serious heart problems.
About 1,000 Americans die each year from prescription stimulants and benzodiazepines like Adderall and Xanax.
Insomnia and poor sleep are two other common symptoms among heavy Adderall users.
This can lead to fatigue, severe mood swings, irritability and restlessness during the day.
A chronic lack of sleep can also increase your risk for a variety of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and delusions.
Weight loss is also a possible side effect of Adderall addiction. This can happen due to decreased appetite or excessive exercise.
Adderall increases the amount of glucose — or sugar — released into the body, which raises blood sugar and can lead to stomach pain and diarrhea.
Those who have used the drug for a long time or incorrectly will develop physical dependence on the drug and experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to come off, including depression, irritability and trouble sleeping.
Cerebral and Done both said they do not pressure clinicians and provide essential services, but the DEA is currently investigating the companies’ prescribing practices. Pictured is a snapshot of a Cerebral video ad that appeared on Facebook in 2021
Last year, 41 million prescriptions were issued for Adderall
With the advent of telemedicine and Covid, Adderall prescriptions have grown from 35.8 million in 2019 to 41 million in 2021.
There are fears that overprescribing of the drug is leading to a new wave of addiction similar to the opioid crisis.
Telemedicine company profits rose to monumental levels during the pandemic.
Cerebral Inc – currently under investigation for aggressively promoting Adderall on Facebook and Instagram – reached a valuation of $4.8 billion in 2020, just over two years after its inception.
Done Global Inc — which is also under investigation for its prescribing practices — saw its earnings quickly eclipse the $3 million on offer, people familiar with the company told Bloomberg.
The leading manufacturer of Adderall for the US market – which accounts for more than 80 percent of all sales worldwide – is Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals.
The company has annual sales of approximately $3.59 billion and specializes primarily in generic drugs.
There are fears that overprescribing the drug could increase the risk of more patients becoming addicted, further straining the healthcare system.
This also means that ADHD sufferers who need the drug struggle to get hold of the treatment.
In October, some patients warned that they were considering turning to the black market to fill their prescriptions.
And others said they had to visit more than 40 pharmacies to make sure they got the treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared a shortage of Adderall that same month, about 90 days after suppliers warned of shortages.
Teva blames increased demand and labor shortages at its factories for the situation.
Last month, a mother blamed her son’s death on lax Adderall prescription rules put in place during the Covid pandemic.
Elijah Hanson was found dead on the kitchen floor in Tacoma, Washington on June 25 after filming himself with a loaded gun playing Russian roulette.
The 21-year-old received a prescription for Adderall from a telemedicine pharmacy despite suffering from mental health issues, his brother Ethan said.
Mother Kelli Rasmussen blamed Adderall for his suicide, telling CBS that even though her son did not have ADHD, he was still able to get a prescription for the drug by lying to telemedicine providers.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is required by law to set production quotas for Schedule II drug ingredients each year.
In December, the DEA announced that it would not allow any increase in the production of pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture Adderall and other stimulants used to treat ADHD until 2023.
The DEA’s decision to limit production, along with a spike in prescriptions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has reportedly contributed to a shortage of Adderall, the US Food and Drug Administration found in October.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
