The Adderall shortage across the country could lead to a “public health crisis,” some experts warn.
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00:00Health experts are concerned that the Adderall shortage across the country
00:03could lead to a public health crisis. So why is there a shortage and how long
00:07will it last? Fruit can explain in less than 60 seconds.
00:10In 2017, there were 32.2 million Adderall prescriptions across the U.S.
00:14And by 2021, there were 41.4 million prescriptions being filled.
00:19The increase in prescriptions raises concerns that patients may be getting
00:22misdiagnosed. And it also comes at the same time we're
00:24seeing a sharp rise in the use of telehealth, which is often advertised on
00:28social media, including TikTok. In these online virtual
00:31appointments, some patients can get diagnosed and prescribed medicine in as
00:34little as 30 minutes. Health experts say that other problems
00:37like anxiety and depression can initially present themselves as ADHD.
00:41But a drug like Adderall will not work to fix these conditions.
00:44Patients who do need the drug but are unable to access it because of the
00:48shortage obviously suffer too, with some of them
00:50even experiencing stimulant withdrawal symptoms.
00:53Manufacturing delays have also contributed to the shortage, but the FDA
00:57estimates that will only last 30 to 60 days.