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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Politics
Wilfred Chan

‘The worst it’s ever been’: mysterious US Adderall shortage puts ADHD patients at risk

collage illustration shows people closing their eyes with images of adderall pills superimposed on the pictures
ADHD persists through a patient’s lifetime and stimulant medication is the most common therapy. Illustration: Marta Parszeniew

When the last tablet of Ritalin rattled softly in the plastic vial, Faati knew that sound meant trouble. The last time, they had run out of ADHD meds for three months and struggled to remember tasks or even tell time at the Washington state cafeteria where they worked. On the day they finally got a refill, they were fired for “performance reasons”.

Erik, a 26-year-old Seattle grocery clerk, who also has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, has been unable to get his medications filled for months now – and he’s worried he’ll lose the first full-time job he’s ever had.

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