The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning that could affect thousands of Americans as the country faces a potential Adderall shortage.
Adderall, the key treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), could soon be hard to get, according to a Health Alert Network advisory.
The CDC said the reason for the advisory was “to inform public health officials, clinicians, and affected patients, their families and caregivers about potential disrupted access to care among individuals taking prescription stimulant medications and possible increased risks for injury and overdose.”
The CDC is estimating that the shortage of the medication will affect more than 40,000 Americans.
The ingredients of Adderall are amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, and while it’s primarily used for treating ADHD, it can also be used for other conditions like narcolepsy.
The warning comes after the CEO and clinical president of Done Global were arrested after officials discovered the two were distributing Adderall over the Internet as part of a distribution scheme, the Department of Justice shared.
Ruthia He and David Brody are now facing up to 20 years in prison on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiring to commit healthcare fraud.
The pair were accused of submitting false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement for Adderall and other stimulants, defrauding taxpayers out of nearly $100 million.
“As alleged, these defendants exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to develop and carry out a $100 million scheme to defraud taxpayers and provide easy access to Adderall and other stimulants for no legitimate medical purpose,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland shared. “Those seeking to profit from addiction by illegally distributing controlled substances over the internet should know that they cannot hide their crimes and that the Justice Department will hold them accountable.”
The CDC has since shared that the scheme is one reason for the potential shortage in the medication, which could affect those in all 50 states.
“This potential disruption coincides with an ongoing prescription drug shortage involving several stimulant medications commonly prescribed to treat ADHD, including immediate-release formulation of amphetamine mixed salts (Adderall).”