Families across Australia are finding it more difficult than ever to manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A nationwide medication shortage is preventing their access to these essential treatments. Canberra resident Harriet Torrens has been among the hundreds of thousands who have been harmed by this crisis over the last two decades. Once she got prescribed Concerta, she was able to take control of her hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity for more than two years. Now, though, she’s in a dangerous place.
When Torrens’s psychiatrist recommended upping her dosage in February, the medication was still out of stock from chronic shortages. According to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, the ADHD medication shortage has persisted since late last year. It’s likely to continue at least through the end of the federal fiscal year this year. Concerta, Ritalin and Teva XR are most acutely affected. Unfortunately, this often forces countless families to scramble to adjust their treatment plans under extremely inconvenient conditions.
The Impact of Medication Shortages
Harriet Torrens’s story illustrates what the national chronic medication shortage looks like on Australian families. Under pressure from her psychiatrist, Torrens agreed to increase her Concerta dosage. As a side effect, she was passed over for a better med which leaves her with a regimen of several tablets daily. This unexpected change to her daily routine adds stress to the situation, as she worries whether her ADHD symptoms will be effectively managed.
It’s a sad trend that Laura Chapman, Torrens’s general practitioner, has increasingly seen. Patients are calling multiple pharmacies looking for their medications, but often have no luck in getting their needs met. She recalled the process as maddening, with her feeling like she had to “cobble together” prescriptions to serve her patients.
“Being in that situation where I can’t make guarantees and people are feeling really, really anxious with no solution is pretty soul-destroying,” – Simon Blacker.
The unprecedented shortage has led countless parents to have to ration doses or do without medication altogether for their kids. Kim Bland, a general pediatrician in Canberra, noted that some families are forced to give their children medication only on certain days, hoping it will be enough for their learning and managing behavior.
“They’ll give their child medication on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and hope they’ve got enough learning on those days that they can go without their medication on Thursday and Friday,” – Kim Bland.
The Broader Context of Shortages
Australia’s heavy reliance on imported medications only adds fuel to the current fire. And with only 10% of medications made in the U.S., the country is uniquely at-risk to supply chain disruptions. Simon Blacker, before his retirement, underscored the importance of increased local production to guarantee an uninterrupted supply of critical medications.
“But also, only 10 per cent of our medications are made in Australia, and that makes us very vulnerable.” – Simon Blacker.
Of particular note was his titanic sigh for additional efforts from the federal government. He thinks these measures would create a market incentive for more local production and are needed to cover the U.S. in an essential shortage.
“It’s quite a long-term dream, but I would really like to see some kind of buffer where some of these medications could be made here.” – Simon Blacker.
The continued shortage has prompted important questions. More broadly, it tests the healthcare system’s resilience and ability to serve the best interests of patients who depend every day on uninterrupted access to their medicines.
Emotional Toll on Families
The emotional impact of the ADHD medication shortage has been deeply felt for many families. Kim Bland told heart-wrenching tales of parents’ obstacles in finding and pursuing treatment. Millions of these families fall on hard times because they can’t access needed medications.
“It’s really, really heartbreaking to hear some of the things parents are doing and going through,” – Kim Bland.
For families like Torrens’s, having someone with a chronic condition and not being able to access effective, proven treatment options creates despair and hopelessness. For Harriet, the story had a happy ending with the availability of Concerta. She described the journey as learning how to turn off a critical voice that had haunted her most of her life.
“It was a great relief after what had been a lifetime of not quite understanding myself,” – Harriet Torrens.
Now, with the new medicines needing to be dosed every 2 hours, her feeling of stability has been torn away. She explained just how vital the original drug was to her concentration and productivity while going about her daily life.
“It gives me the ability to cut through and get things done,” – Harriet Torrens.
