The DEA says that “manufacturers only sold approximately 70 percent of their allotted quota”, but we don’t get our medications from “manufacturers”; we get our medication from pharmacies, who often only carry 1 generic version of each medication in addition to the brand version. What percentage of generic manufacturers have hit their quota? My guess is that most of the slack is held by manufacturers of brand-name medication, while most of the limits are hitting manufacturers of generics.
Also, the “70 percent” stat is for “amphetamine products”, but what is that referring to, exactly? Adderall? Vyvanse, which is an amphetamine prodrug? All stimulants? (It wouldn’t surprise me, coming from the agency that likes to refer to all illegal drugs as “narcotics”.)
This narrative that the FDA and DEA is pushing – that manufacturers are somehow deciding not to make and sell medication that there is obvious demand for – does not pass the smell test. Maybe the DEA quotas aren’t to blame, but the notion that drug companies are deciding not to make and sell medication – the one thing we’ve been able to count on them to do historically – for some unknown reason that nobody is able to figure out is ludicrous.
The DEA says that “manufacturers only sold approximately 70 percent of their allotted quota”, but we don’t get our medications from “manufacturers”; we get our medication from pharmacies, who often only carry 1 generic version of each medication in addition to the brand version. What percentage of generic manufacturers have hit their quota? My guess is that most of the slack is held by manufacturers of brand-name medication, while most of the limits are hitting manufacturers of generics.
Also, the “70 percent” stat is for “amphetamine products”, but what is that referring to, exactly? Adderall? Vyvanse, which is an amphetamine prodrug? All stimulants? (It wouldn’t surprise me, coming from the agency that likes to refer to all illegal drugs as “narcotics”.)
This narrative that the FDA and DEA is pushing – that manufacturers are somehow deciding not to make and sell medication that there is obvious demand for – does not pass the smell test. Maybe the DEA quotas aren’t to blame, but the notion that drug companies are deciding not to make and sell medication – the one thing we’ve been able to count on them to do historically – for some unknown reason that nobody is able to figure out is ludicrous.