 Because of the overprescription of ADHD medication during the Covid lockdown by companies like Cerebral and Done, who are now under investigation by the DEA and FDA, there is a shortage of Adderall. This has had a cascading effect onto the other ADHD medications such as the methylphenidate class, as providers try to find alternatives for their clients. A report from Carlat Psychiatry projects the adderall shortage to last until March 2023, perhaps longer (Aiken & Newsome, 2023). In addition to this, the Wall Street Journal has reported the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders is working with the American Psychiatric Association to provide official guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults (2022). Up to this point, guidelines have only been for children up to the age of 18. Adult guidelines are slated for release sometime in 2023. I expect more stingent guidelines will be provided in order to protect the public from overprescription of stimulants. The article in The WSJ quoted a concerned provider stating this may be another opioid epidemic. Resources:
 First, the diagnosis of ADHD can be somewhat of a lengthy process. There are many factors that can lead to difficulty in concentration and impulsivity. At the time of this writing, the criteria for ADHD diagnosis is only outlined for children up to the age of 18.
So one of the first questions I ask clients who think they may have ADHD is: Have you been diagnosed or treated for ADHD as a child or teen?
Another line of questioning is: Could your difficulty focusing be attributed to something else? Are you experiencing depression or anxiety? Have you been tested for a hearing, reading or comprehension difficulty? Has there been exposure to toxins like lead? How much screen time do you have in a day? Are you experiencing more than one of these factors?
Short answer: it depends. To set realistic expectations, it may take a few sessions to figure out whether ADHD is the appropriate diagnosis. In accordance with guidelines, other factors previously mentioned like anxiety and processing difficulties must be investigated and treated first before considering ADHD diagnosis. References:
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