March 12, 2025
Access to prescription ADHD medication continues to burden — and preoccupy — patients with ADHD.
The prescription stimulant shortage that first disrupted treatment for millions of patients with ADHD two years ago lingers for many. And now, ADDitude readers and others in the mental-health community are worried about losing access to “lifesaving” medication as the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission investigates the state of “childhood chronic disease.”
The MAHA Commission will “assess the prevalence of and threat posed by the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs” and deliver a recommendation on May 25. Some within the mental-health community are expressing concern that the commission could force the withdrawal of Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval for these drugs.
According to an article published last week by Medscape, rescinding the FDA’s authorization for these medications would be “very difficult,” requiring years of public meetings and evidence that the medications are unsafe.
Research has long established the safety and efficacy of the stimulant medications used to treat ADHD. Amphetamine (brand name: Adderall) and methylphenidate (brand name: Ritalin), two main stimulants used to treat ADHD, have been found to reduce ADHD symptoms by 70% to 90% in children1,2.
[Get This Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to ADHD Medication]
SSRIs are often used as a first-line pharmacological option for treating anxiety and depression, as they have fewer side effects than older classes of antidepressants3.
Despite the proven safety and efficacy of these medications, ADDitude readers say they are largely feeling uneasy and anxious as they await the commission’s report. Here is what they told us on Facebook last week:
“I never thought I’d see such craziness here in our country. I’m truly scared for what this could mean for my child, who needs his medication to function. Natural aids can only do so much.” — Martha
“Exercise and what we eat are powerful, but it’s not enough to help my ADHD and AuDHD family members… Removing ADHD meds would make it darn near impossible for my AuDHD kid to learn.” — Laura
[Get This Free Download: Comparison Chart of Stimulants & Non-Stimulants]
“My kids and I are all on medication for ADHD. I am also a therapist specializing in the ADHD population. I wish people outside of this world would take a moment to realize that none of us go on these medications for funsies…we do so because they are incredibly helpful and enable us to live normal, healthy, and productive lives.” — Megan
“I applaud people who can find a natural way to treat their symptoms. However, for me, it’s like a completely new life with stimulants. It’s so odd that anyone would want to take something life-changing away from someone. It’s cruel.” — Jenna
“As an individual with ADHD and a public school educator, I hope and pray they don’t do anything to make meds even harder to get. That will wreck the quality of life for a lot of people.” — Martha
“Just because something didn’t work for your child, doesn’t mean it’s not a lifesaver for another. It’s up to each parent and their child’s doctors and therapist to decide what’s best for them, including the use of medication.” — Amanda
“The issues treated by the drugs the commission might target are all long-perceived by Boomers as flaws of character, something you can pray or willpower away, with enough discipline.” — Heather
“ADHD meds are effective and helpful for me and two of our children. We also know that we need daily exercise and a diet…I am all for pulling back the curtain and working to make people healthy…It’s time for a change.” — Terri
Make America Healthy Again Commission: Next Steps
- Read: Dear Mr. Kennedy
- Free Download: A Parent’s Guide to ADHD Medications
- Read: “We Should Never Pull a Life-Saving Medication from a Child”
Sources
1 Spencer, Thomas et al. A large, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of methylphenidate in the treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Biological Psychiatry, Volume 57(5), 456-463https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2004.11.043
2 Barbaresi WJ, Katusic SK, Colligan RC, Weaver AL, Leibson CL, Jacobsen SJ. (2006). Long-term stimulant medication treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results from a population-based study. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 27(1):1-10. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1097/00004703-200602000-00001
3 Chu A, Wadhwa R. (2025). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. In: StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/
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