News FDA and DEA Leaders Call for More ADHD Meds, But Ignore Rx Opioid Shortages

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FDA and DEA Leaders Call for More ADHD Meds, But Ignore Rx Opioid Shortages​

Pain News Network
By: Pat Anson
2 August 2023

Excerpts:

Leaders of the Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration say they’re working to end one of the worst drug shortages in decades.

“The lack of availability of certain medications in recent months has been understandably frustrating for patients and their families,” FDA commissioner Robert Califf, MD, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in an unusual joint letter.

Unfortunately, the letter has nothing to do with opioids. It’s only about shortages of Adderall and other prescription stimulants, which are used primarily to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The letter is the latest example of how the FDA and DEA have turned a blind eye to opioid shortages, which both agencies have played prominent roles in creating. Two widely used painkillers, oxycodone and hydrocodone, have been difficult to get for months, leaving thousands of patients in uncontrolled pain or going into withdrawal. Even big chain pharmacies like CVS are out of opioids or have a limited supply.

 

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TLDR? Summary-
The FDA and DEA have publicly addressed one of the most significant drug shortages in recent times. However, contrary to the expectations of many pain patients in the U.S., their joint letter, penned by FDA commissioner Robert Califf, MD, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, does not address the shortage of opioid medications. Instead, it focuses on the unavailability of prescription stimulants like Adderall, primarily used for ADHD treatment. This move further underscores the perception that the agencies have largely ignored the opioid crisis, even as widely-used painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone become increasingly scarce, causing distress for many patients. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists had already flagged the shortage of certain painkillers. Additionally, Teva Pharmaceutical, one of the world's leading generic drug manufacturers, plans to halt the production of immediate release oxycodone. Despite these warnings, the agencies remain unresponsive to the opioid shortage but have shown initiative towards boosting stimulant production. Critics argue that these agencies could play a more active role in resolving the opioid issue if they chose to. The DEA, in collaboration with the FDA, determines annual production quotas for controlled substances. Over recent years, there has been a notable reduction in the production of painkillers. The agencies' letter emphasizes their limitations, stating they don't produce drugs or dictate a company's production quantities. Many, including pain sufferers and advocates, criticize the DEA's involvement in dictating prescription quantities, suggesting that medical professionals should make these decisions. Individuals can report drug shortages to the FDA, an avenue some, like Christine Kucera, have utilized to express their frustration at the ongoing crisis.