Agency heads request an increase from manufacturers and for healthcare providers to slow demand.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are taking steps to address the shortage of stimulants in the United States. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram released a letter saying that they will push companies to meet their annual production quotas and encourage healthcare providers to rely less on the substance for treating illnesses such as ADHD and narcolepsy.
“We want to make sure those who need stimulant medications have access,” Commissioner Califf and Administrator Milgram wrote. “However, it is also an appropriate time to take a closer look at how we can best ensure these drugs are being prescribed thoughtfully and responsibly.”
As for drug companies, they have been making only 70 percent of the stimulants they are allowed to manufacture in a given year. This has created a gap in the market as ADHD diagnoses increase.
“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,” the FDA commissioner and DEA administrator explained. “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.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Commissioner Califf as he oversees the efforts of the FDA to ensure medicines are appropriately prescribed and available.
- For Administrator Milgram as she collaborates with the FDA to address stimulant medication shortages.
Sources: The Hill, MedPageToday
