ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Drugs Outcomes Research and Policies
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1529115
This article is part of the Research TopicUsing Behavioral Theories to Improve Medication UseView all 12 articles
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Shortage in the US: A qualitative assessment of Reddit posts Authors
Provisionally accepted
- School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, United States
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Introduction: Approximately 6% of the US population have received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 2023, and about 33%of the patients received stimulants to manage ADHD. Recent ADHD medication shortages in the US have caused substantial disruptions in medication access. The objective of our study was to investigate how individuals respond psychologically and behaviorally to ADHD medication shortage in the US using public discussions on Reddit.Methods: We extracted Reddit threads from “r/ADHD” that consisted of the keyword “shortage”. After identifying relevant threads, we qualitatively analyzed 16 threads relevant to our study to reach thematic saturation. We used a hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis grounded in Stress and Coping Theory to perform a qualitative analysis of the posts between August 2021 and February 2024.Results: Our findings show that redditors with ADHD medication experienced significant cognitive, emotional, and functional impacts due to medication shortage (primary appraisal). Redditors reported challenges with accessing medication due to complex medical systems, unsupportive healthcare providers, financial strain, and limited understanding of the causes of the shortage (secondary appraisal). Redditors also reported a range of pharmacological (change in dosage/medication, skipping dosage, saving medication, caffeine, nicotine) and non-pharmacological (meditation, exercise) changes to behavior to manage the shortage (coping strategies). In addition, the Reddit community fostered support, positivity, and resource sharing to navigate the shortage.Conclusion: Our study highlights the urgent need for healthcare policies that support individuals with ADHD amid shortages, emphasizing the role of transparent communication from pharmacies, healthcare providers, and regulatory bodies.
Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, stimulant, medication shortage, Reddit, qualitative research, Stress and coping theory
Received: 16 Nov 2024; Accepted: 06 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Shrestha, Varghese, Mehta and Dev. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Shikhar Shrestha, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.