---
title: Could the Adderall shortage impact the workplace?
description: Adderall prescriptions popped during the pandemic.
---

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# [Could the Adderall shortage impact the workplace?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/10-17-22-adderall-pandemic)

 Written by [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/rob-litterst) | Oct 17, 2022 8:44:40 AM

Whispers about the difficulty of obtaining Adderall have been circulating among patients for months.

Last week, the FDA officially [confirmed](https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-warns-of-adderall-shortage-months-after-patients-raised-concerns-11665759564?mod=hp_lista_pos4) their fears — the drug and its generic versions are in short supply, per *The Wall Street Journal*.

#### **Notorious on college campuses as a study drug…**

… Adderall is a stimulant used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In recent years, a couple factors have led to increased usage in the workplace:

- **Increased diagnoses:** ADHD is [~2x](https://www.additudemag.com/explaining-the-global-rise-in-adhd-diagnoses/) as common today among US children as it was in the 1980s, and many patients [continue](https://qz.com/812604/millennials-took-adderall-to-get-through-school-now-theyve-taken-their-addiction-to-the-workplace/) their prescription after entering the workforce.
- **Virtual prescriptions:** In 2020, the federal government passed legislation allowing patients to get Adderall prescribed virtually, which telehealth startups like Cerebral took advantage of.

Further, a rise in prescriptions among 22- to 44-year-olds during the pandemic [revealed](https://www.trillianthealth.com/insights/the-compass/sharp-uptick-in-adderall-prescribing-for-adults-ages-22-44-amid-covid-19-pandemic) many didn’t actually have a formal ADHD diagnosis.

This sudden rise in prescriptions led to increased demand — a problem for pharmaceutical companies with strict manufacturing quotas.

#### **So what’s next?**

Increased demand is just one part of the problem.

- **Teva Pharmaceutical Industries,** the largest supplier of Adderall in the US, says a labor shortage on its packaging line has slowed production, resulting in low supply.

For patients, that means it could be a while before that next prescription is filled.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/10-17-22-adderall-pandemic)

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