In July of 2022, I went to a specialist due to concerns regarding my focus. I have had struggles focusing throughout my life, especially in school. As a kid, the only worry my teachers used to voice in parent teacher conferences was my inability to stay on task. However, these concerns have always been pushed aside because even with attention issues, I was always deemed a bright and determined student.
My parents and I had sat down and had a long conversation before the start of my junior year. With two years left of my high school education, we knew a discussion about these persistent focus issues was long overdue. The last two years of high school are notorious for their difficulty. My plate was bound to be full with sports, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, club leadership roles and college preparation, which is right around the corner. We decided that it was time I see someone to determine where these focus issues stemmed from.
I was diagnosed with a form of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but was extremely high functioning as it did not impede on my day to day life or my overall academic performance. However, the doctors concluded that stress levels, in addition to this ADHD, was bound to end in disaster. That was when they suggested putting me on Adderall—a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, which are two central nervous stimulants that improve focus and reduce impulsivity by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain.
Initially, I was opposed to this suggestion. After hours of research on the long term effects, I worried about how taking a schedule II drug—defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to psychological or physical dependence—would affect my overall development. The doctors stressed that if I missed days of taking my medication, I could go through some notable signs of withdrawal. Despite my worries, with my two most important school years ahead of me, my parents and I decided that ultimately, medication was needed.
I have been taking this medication for over a year now, the difference in my attention span before and after starting the medication has been subtle, but present. My ability to stay on task has improved greatly. I have found a way to manage my heavy workload and busy schedule.
On Oct. 12, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement regarding the shortage of Adderall on their drug shortage website. At the time, my pharmacy had experienced the shortage but not so severe that I did not have access to medication.
However, in August of this year, I faced the shortage head on. Aug. 7 through Aug. 16, I did not have access to my medication. That’s eight school days full of withdrawal symptoms and attention issues. Of course, there had been occasions where I had forgotten to take my medication, but I had never fully experienced any sort of withdrawal before. During those eight days, I was severely exhausted—both physically and mentally. I struggled to focus in class and became more and more unmotivated as the days trudged on. Teachers had voiced their concerns regarding my missing work and my lateness to their classes. The worst part of the experience had been that I had no excuse.
Most students who are diagnosed with ADHD or variations of ADHD receive a 504 plan. The U.S. Department of Education states that under a 504 plan, a school district is required to “provide a ‘free appropriate public education’ to each qualified student with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.” Essentially, school districts must provide aids and services designed to meet the student’s individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met.
When I was diagnosed, I could have taken the opportunity to sign up for a 504. However, my parents and I ultimately decided against it. They believed I was a responsible enough student to not need any accommodations. I didn’t want to benefit from or take advantage of a system that I felt I didn’t need. Moreover, I worried that a 504 would only encourage habits of laziness or procrastination.
However, during this eight day period full of anxiety and inattention, I found myself regretful of this decision. Accepting help is difficult; while I have always been self-sufficient, when it comes to my ADHD there will be times where I need those extra accommodations in order to succeed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD is among the most common mental conditions in children, with an estimated 6 million children ages 3 to 17 years having ever been diagnosed. CDC experts estimate that approximately 60% of children with ADHD are treated with prescription stimulants. This goes to show that I am just one student out of millions whose education has been hindered due to the Adderall shortage.
When my medication was finally accessible at my pharmacy and I got back on my regular prescription schedule, my stress eased and I could once again concentrate during lessons and practices. Despite this return to normalcy, until the shortage is resolved I will continue to fear for the next time I have to go without my prescription.
