The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has declared as of Oct. 12 that there is a shortage of the widely used Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication Adderall. 

 Teva Pharmaceutical, the largest supplier of generic and branded Adderall, has attributed the shortage to three things: an overall increase in demand, workforce shortages and manufacturing disruptions.  

Teva’s status as the main supplier of Adderall has another implication—other Adderall manufacturers cannot increase their supply at current operational levels. This indication means that the shortage of Adderall is worsening due to the impossibility of increasing production as of the time of this article’s publication.  

What makes the shortage so pressing is that there are no suitable alternative medications available that would make a quick change in medication simple or desirable. Additionally, the restrictions tied to acquiring Adderall due to its classification as a Schedule 2 Controlled Substance, might prevent potential patients from receiving their medication before it runs out.  
The FDA predicts that the shortage could be over as soon as late October or could potentially last until March of 2023. The FDA is publishing a list of current manufacturers/product strengths still available and working to monitor and supply manufacturers to help them overcome the shortage.