Supply and Demand of Adderall

Adderall presence on the U.S. market With between 3% and 5% of individuals in the U.S. having been diagnosed with ADHD, there is high demand for drugs that can make it possible for these respective individuals to cope with their condition. While there is much controversy regarding such drugs, some are considered especially effective and there is a strong consumer base for these products. During the last two decades Adderall experienced significant progress in the health care industry as people acknowledged the benefits that the drug had on ADHD patients.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s the masses started to express more support with regard to stimulants, with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds being able to improve their lives as a result of using them. To a certain degree, it would be safe to say that ADHD becoming more popular played an important role in helping a great deal of pharmaceutical companies experience progress. Adderall was created in 1996 as a consequence of Shire acquiring Rexar Pharmaceuticals and rebranding one of its diet drugs, Obetrol.

The company immediately got the product onto the market as a consequence of having it FDA-approved. "Overnight, Adderall catapulted Shire from a small-time drug company into a major pharmaceutical giant." (Mayes, Bagwell, & Erkulwater 154) Adderall is currently one of the most popular drugs prescribed in cases involving individuals with ADHD and a series of other related disorders. From its emergence in 1996 and until 2006, doctors wrote around 50 million prescriptions for children and adults (Mayes, Bagwell, & Erkulwater 154).

In order to have a more complex understanding of Adderall, Shire, and the company's relationship with the market, one would have to consider recent shortages of the drug. The company has claimed that the Drug Enforcement Administration has implemented strategies meant to limit the drug's production. As a consequence, individuals who are accustomed to taking it in order to be able to live somewhat normal lives are embarking on scavenger hunts in an attempt to get it.

Many visit numerous pharmacies only to find that the drug is either unavailable or that it sold as soon as it got to the drug store. Adderall is a controlled substance and the DEA is apparently concerned with the fact that in some cases it can become widely available.

As a consequence, the institution has installed tougher legislations meant to limit its presence in drug stores and to discourage individuals who might be inclined to take it in spite of the fact that they do not actually need the substance (Edwards). While ADHD sufferers experience significant issues as a consequence of having trouble getting their hands on Adderall, Shire profits significantly from the exploit. This is especially surprising considering the fact that there are a series of generic drugs using the same recipe as Adderall.

"Usually, branded sales collapse almost immediately as insurers and pharmacists switch all their patients to the cheap, identical version of the drug." (Edwards) The fact that amphetamine is the main ingredient in Adderall means that the DEA goes through great efforts in order to limit access to the substance.

The fact that there are a great deal of individuals who are likely to express interest in it purely as a recreational drug led to a great deal of controversies, with the authorities being inclined to believe that pharmacies and Shire have installed strategies that are ineffective. With Adderall stocks being limited, patients risk a great deal in their struggle to get the drug, as the condition of the market influences some to take advantage of people who actually need the substance.

Adderall can either be stolen, counterfeited, or sold in a condition where it can be especially harmful for the customer. Many pharmacies can decide to sell the drug as a consequence of the profits they make from the exploit even if their managers are uncertain with regard to authenticity or to the expiry date of the drug. As some become experts in producing substances similar to Adderall, numerous users have been reported to find it difficult and almost impossible to tell the difference between actual Adderall and copies.

Unlike conventional products being counterfeited, fake pharmaceuticals can be especially harmful for users. The internet proves to be a flourishing environment for individuals counterfeiting drugs: "Fake medicines have drastically increased over the last few year, and some research shows that 90% of fake drugs are sold over the internet at some point in time." (Kardes, Cronley & Cline, 498) The legitimate supply chain of Adderall can thus be affected as a consequence of counterfeiters stepping in and taking advantage of vulnerable individuals in search of a normal life.

With both children and adults significantly improving their lives as a consequence of taking Adderall, one can understand how these individuals are exposed. Many are unable to continue their daily lives and attend schools or go to work if they do not have access to the.