Statements
A Reply to the American Journal of Managed Care on the ADHD Medication Shortage
03.17.2025
The March 2025 edition of the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) laid an argument on the table that overdiagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is to blame for the current shortage of stimulant medication. The Americans for Autism Advocacy Foundation (AFAA-F) offers the following reply.
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American Journal of Managed Care Ignores the Done Global Indictments of 2024
The American Journal of Managed Care fails to acknowledge the Done Global indictments from 2024. United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced sweeping indictments against the founders of the online pharmacy Done Global on June 13, 2024. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California alleged that clinical director David Brody and founder Ruthia. The founders allegedly used telemedicine to improperly prescribe Adderall and using deceptive marketing tactics. The Done Global indictments exposed that improper prescriptions are a chief cause of the ADHD medication shortage in the United States.
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American Journal of Managed Care Ignores a 2024 Centers for Disease Control Warning that the Done Global Indictments Worsened the ADHD Medication Shortage, not the Insurance Industry.
One allegation leveled by AJMC is that insurance companies like UnitedHealthCare made it easier for patients to access Vyanese without going through step therapy or prior approval. AJMC in turn accused UnitedHealthCare of creating the ADHD medication shortage. AJMC ignores the fact that the improper prescribing of controlled substances as alleged in the Done Global indictments are a major cause for the overprescribing of controlled substances. The Centers for Disease Control issued an advisory relating to the ADHD medication shortage on June 13, 2024. The same CDC advisory mentioned that individuals struggling to obtain such medication should only obtain certain medications through a licensed pharmacist. AJMC does argue in their article that increased production and easier access to controlled substances could cause overprescribing. AJMC is misleading their professional community and the public by not educating themselves on the real root causes of the ADHD medication shortage in the United States. Confronting the reality of the lasting impact of the Done Global indictments should be a starting point for the medical community to find non-stimulant treatments for ADHD.
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American Journal of Managed Care Must Work with the American Psychiatric Association and other Trade Associations Relating to Improving DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD Diagnosis
AJMC mentions flaws with the current DSM-5 diagnosis model. We do agree with AJMC that there can be room for improvement on the DSM-5 diagnosis scale. AJMC must make a concerted effort to work with the American Psychological and Psychiatric associations to improve DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The American Psychiatric Association keeps a very good resource relating to current DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. AJMC must use their article to have a healthy discussion with all the members and stakeholders tied to the trade associations on DSM 5 criteria. The last updates to DSM-5 criteria for Autism and related conditions have not happened since 2015.
Final Words
The AJMC is using their scientific knowledge to raise an argument relating to the ADHD medication shortage in the context of a scholarly journal article read by other professionals. AJMC needs to see the reality that improper prescribing of stimulants are the real reason for the ADHD medication shortage. Accusing UnitedHealthCare of the ADHD medication shortage by making it easier to obtain Vyanese is an ad hominem defection from the real systemic problems ADHD patients in the United States face. AJMC should correct themselves and realize that unless systemic changes are made, the United States will continue to face ADHD medication shortages. AJMC needs to see reality and start working with the CDC and the trade associations to find solutions for every American diagnosed with ADHD.
