Stimulant Drug Shortage Impacting Patients In North Carolina
A shortage of stimulant drugs is affecting patients in North Carolina. Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Adminstration are getting involved.
Officials say the shortage is the result of many factors, including a manufacturing delay and record prescription rates. Prescribed stimulant use in the United States is up more than 45 percent since 2012.
Stimulant drugs are used to treat a number of conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. A shortage of these drugs can leave patients with few alternatives. The FDA and DEA released a joint statement:
“The FDA and DEA do not manufacture drugs and cannot require a pharmaceutical company to make a drug, make more of a drug, or change the distribution of a drug. That said, we are working closely with numerous manufacturers, agencies, and others in the supply chain to understand, prevent, and reduce the impact of these shortages.”
The statement goes on to say that the FDA and DEA is calling on key manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies to ensure access for patients who really need the drugs. They also intend to take a closer look at whether stimulant drugs are being prescribed thoughtfully and responsibly.
