Up until several weeks ago, a nationwide shortage of ADHD medications presented a formidable challenge to students who rely on them. For many Harvard students, the prospect of enduring three-hour seminars, extensive reading, and hours immersed in the library on weekends becomes daunting in the absence of these vital medications. Entering October—the official ADHD awareness month—the ADHD medication shortage underscores the need to recognize and address the mental health challenges Harvard students face.
According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 5.6 % of U.S. college students are impacted by ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Assuming Harvard’s campus reflects these proportions, over 1,400 Harvard students are likely affected by the shortage. Students diagnosed with ADHD, a neurodevelopmental condition, are commonly prescribed stimulant medications by their healthcare provider to manage their symptoms, which can include difficulty focusing, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. This medication helps students succeed academically, stay motivated, and maintain their overall well-being.
According to the Child Mind Institute, the most popular brand names of stimulant medications are Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, Ritalin, and Vyvanse. They have a calming effect on people with ADHD by increasing levels of certain chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Without these medications, students are prone to experience hindered focus, increased anxiety, and depression.
The shortage has had a consequential and lasting impact on Harvard students. “With the Adderall shortage, I have not been able to get any medicine to help treat some of [my] symptoms so learning how to manage [my] time, maintain focus, and work efficiently has been very important,” said one anonymous Harvard freshman who struggles with ADHD.
Furthermore, the shortage has caused students to have to ration their medicine supply, which can lead to multiple negative health and social risks. “I have to in some moments take a break so I can have a few spare dosages, so if there is a delay I will be okay,” said another anonymous Harvard student, discussing instances where they feel medication is necessary but do not want to deplete the limited supply they have available.
The public shortage of Adderall began in the fall of 2022 and has since experienced a domino effect, leading to multiple drug and generic equivalents in short supply. This initial delay of Adderall was traced to one unnamed drug maker according to the joint DEA and FDA’s assessment in August 2023. In a letter written to manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies, the two federal agencies wrote, “This delay has since been resolved and we are continuing to experience its effects in combination with record-high prescription rates of stimulant medications.”
Several other factors converged to create the perfect storm of a national ADHD medication shortage. The demand for ADHD medications saw a notable surge, mainly driven by a growing awareness of the disorder and mounting academic pressure on students. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation, as policy changes eased restrictions on in-person doctor visits, leading more students to seek treatment for their mental health or medical concerns. Furthermore, the pandemic’s larger economic impact on global supply chains disrupted manufacturers’ ability to meet the escalating demand for these medications.
Regulatory hurdles also led to a continuation of the shortage. The DEA classifies ADHD medications as controlled substances due to their potential for abuse, addiction, and overdose. This classification increased approval delays and scrutiny, leading to manufacturing limitations. The DEA does set production quotas to limit potential abuse. However, according to the DEA and FDA’s joint letter in 2023, “In 2022, manufacturers only sold approximately 70 percent of their allotted quota. There were approximately 1 billion more doses that they could have produced but did not make or ship.”
The repercussions of the shortage have had a significant impact and Harvard students are not immune to its effects. Without access to prescribed medications, students experience disruptions in their daily lives, hindering their academic performance and overall well-being. Balancing academic stressors, activities, and social obligations can lead to anxiety and depression stemming from an inability to function at their accustomed level of focus. Even students without ADHD struggle with such high-demanding schedules. Moreover, a lack of alternative resources—or a misdiagnosis such as therapy and executive function specialists to compensate for the absence of medication—often amplify the challenges that they may face.
In late August, the FDA approved several generic versions of Vyvanse for the first time; yet it is too soon to determine how that will affect the shortage. While stimulants are in short supply nationwide, alternative solutions exist for different non-stimulant prescription medications. Though these treatments are not controlled and less likely to create dependencies, they typically take up to four weeks or longer to start working.
In an interview with the Harvard Independent, a pharmacist at the CVS Pharmacy in Harvard Square spoke on the drugstore’s recovery since the shortage. “CVS is now capable of fulfilling all of its ADHD medication prescriptions,” they said, noting the pharmacy’s collaboration working hand in hand with the Harvard University Health Services (HUHS).
While the full impact of this shortage is yet to be seen, we must prioritize the well-being of Harvard students with empathy and understanding. No matter what challenges students face, it should be ensured that everyone has an equitable chance to succeed.
The crisis prompts broader questions about issues such as accessibility and awareness. We have a collective responsibility to support one another through mental health struggles and neurodiversity. Now more than ever at Harvard, we must prioritize creating a beacon of hope and refuge where students can readily find support from their peers, faculty, and the institution itself.
Nina Berkman ’27 (ninaberkman@college.harvard.edu) was prescribed Adderall, but doesn’t think it has worked.