ADHD Medication Shortage Described as “Nightmare” by Kent Families

Individuals in Kent diagnosed with ADHD report that a scarcity of essential medications is rendering their lives a “living nightmare”. The unavailability of these drugs in pharmacies has resulted in some individuals enduring waits of several years to obtain their prescribed treatments. Several individuals indicated that they routinely contact numerous pharmacies, sometimes dozens, to locate their medication or travel up to 20 miles (32km) to acquire their treatments. Additionally, one person has opted to pay £200 monthly for private access to her medication. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care stated that, despite most medicines being readily available, the department is actively addressing problems stemming from intricate and strictly regulated global supply chains. Tracy McKenzie, a hairdresser and single mother, has ADHD, as do her 10-year-old daughter and teenage son. Ms McKenzie, residing in Dartford, stated: “My son is on a high strength of stimulant medication and without it becomes impulsive and aggressive.” She added: “Every month I worry about trying to get medication for us all, which then impacts my own mental health.” Ms McKenzie further elaborated: “I phone many chemists within a 20-mile radius to find which has it in stock and pray that, by the time the doctor writes the prescription, someone else hasn’t managed to get the last of it before me. “It’s a living nightmare.”” Zoe Horsham, a student at Kent University, reported that her ADHD intensifies her anxiety in public environments, impeding her ability to leave her residence. She further mentioned that her inability to obtain medication earlier in the year resulted in “a great deal of distress”. Consequently, she was compelled to consult a private clinic and incur a £200 cost for a month’s supply. She concluded: “Being a student it’s not viable for me to keep paying that amount every month.” Nikki Negus, from Rainham, has faced difficulties for over two years in securing ADHD medications for her 14-year-old daughter. She explained: “We have to go to a chemist 20 miles away as local pharmacies don’t ever have it in stock,” noting that even this option can be “hit or miss”. An additional mother, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed that her daughter is experiencing a 12-month delay for her medication, rendering her “unable to attend school and a depressed, anxious wreck”. The issue extends beyond ADHD medications; shortages of HRT for menopausal women and Creon, frequently administered to patients with pancreatic cancer, have also garnered media attention in recent years. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care commented: “We know how frustrating and distressing medicine supply issues can be for patients, and the pharmacists and clinicians caring for them.“This government inherited a broken NHS alongside global supply problems that continue to impact the availability of (certain) medicines. “We are working closely with the NHS, manufacturers and other partners in the supply chain to resolve current issues as quickly as possible.” For updates, follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can be sent to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp at 08081 002250. This article is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.