Got Adderall?
I am so, so lucky. I just got my generic Adderall prescription filled at probably one of the last three outlets in California to have any (just guessing on that, but probably not too far off base).
I got mine Sunday night in Baldwin Park, California -- but nearly died on the freeway on the way (almost picked off by a truck near the 710).
Freeway driving terrifies me and this was a harrowing trip in my tiny 2004 Honda Insight hybrid.
Worry about running out had me bolting awake at night and ate a good bit of my writing time (being upset, calling pharmacies, emailing my doctor, calling pharmacies, emailing my doctor, trying to get to the bottom of this with a little reporting...though less than I wanted, since my priority had to be getting my prescription filled and making up for lost writing time).
I had called Canada and had also looked into going on one of the buses of old ladies that goes to Mexico to get prescriptions. Generous friends and blog commenters called pharmacies for me -- and thank you for that.
(And no, you can't ship Schedule 2 narcotic prescriptions over state lines -- or the Canadian border, and yes, I did figure out that it would be more convenient to fax a prescription to the Kaiser in Sacramento, but the DEA doesn't allow that with Schedule 2 narcotics. You have to show your little ass up there with the prescription in triplicate).
On Sunday afternoon, immediately post radio show (with the AMAZING Dr. Helen), I made an annotatable PDF of all the Kaiser 24-hour pharmacies within a six-hour drive, and got on the phone and began calling those in the areas I perceived to be "untrendiest."
On the bright side, it would have taken me two or more harrowing hours each way to get to and from Baldwin Park on the average weekday afternoon at the time I left. Thanks to the holiday, it took me only that (harrowing) hour or so each way.
I suggest that anybody else who needs Adderall or the generic call pharmacies in the least "cool" areas, and maybe you'll get some, too. Hope so.
Oh, and from news reports, what I've pieced together from drug policy people, and reporters I've spoken to, this shortage occurred because the government -- scuse me, the NANNY STATE's Drug Enforcement Administration -- held off delivering amphetamine until December to the companies making the drug, and it takes them three months from the time they get it to produce it.
Yes, better that we should stop a college student who uses it without a prescription to get an A instead of a B (terrible, huh?!) than to allow people like me, with legit prescriptions to ameliorate the apparent dopamine issues cause by ADHD, to have the drug they need to turn their work from torture into sometimes hard work that they love.
P.S. I like Big, Meddling Government even less than I did last week and all the weeks that preceded it. That didn't seem possible.
Question: what makes the trip "harrowing"?
I know you get motion sickness easily (fortunately, you don't get notion sickness!), but what's the big deal? Was it time pressure and anxiety that they'd actually be out of your stuff before you got there?
I've driven all over, and I'm actually more comfortable in New York than in SC because of the latter's higher "dawdle factor".
Drive as though you were trying to get somewhere, you make me a happy guy.
Radwaste at January 1, 2012 10:46 PM
But the DEA 'officially' says there is no shortage (although the FDA 'officially' says there is).
DrCos at January 2, 2012 3:49 AM
Hey Rad I live in SC and I will be dawdling this year in a new (used) muscle car.
Happy New Year to All!
Purplepen at January 2, 2012 3:58 AM
Question: what makes the trip "harrowing"?
There are days when I can't even leave the house Radwaste. Brain chemistry can fuck you over like that. I'm out of my medication right now - there's no shortage, I just didn't stock up before new years. I totally understand where Amy is coming from. When something keeps you on an even keel and you can't get it, you're going to get a bit unbalanced.
Ltw at January 2, 2012 6:35 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889182">comment from RadwasteI'm just not a big freeway driver. It scares me -- especially in the dark. I wear glasses when I drive (my mandate, not the DMV's -- didn't need them for my last license test) and can see the road fine but signs are hard to see until I'm close to them. I barely go anywhere (I write all the time) and mostly drive on side streets. I am fine driving the old Santa Monica freeway, which I take briefly if it's much faster to go someplace, but I am terrified on the huge ones. Traffic moves much faster than on the Santa Monica Freeway -- the 10. If ever I take that, I get off at the city of Los Angeles. Last night, I passed about every freeway in Los Angeles and got on some of them. It was very confusing getting there and especially, getting home. I called Gregg to talk me through getting home. The freeway keeps turning into something else and it's very confusing.
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 7:07 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889184">comment from DrCosBut the DEA 'officially' says there is no shortage (although the FDA 'officially' says there is).
Right. Eric, most wonderfully, called his pharmacy in Idaho for me. He forgot to ask whether they have any -- just worrying about whether they can send prescrips. They can't -- not sked 2 narcotics -- and they didn't have Adderall or the generic.
What I did was do demographics. This is a mostly Latino area. I didn't see anybody at the pharmacy in line who wasn't Latino. The pharmacy didn't even seem to have heard of the Adderall shortage...I just sat there nervously for 45 minutes waiting for my prescription. (Everyone else got theirs in 15 minutes but you have to lick the government's feet in triplicate for Schedule 2 narcotics.)
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 7:10 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889187">comment from Amy AlkonThe fact that I have to drive what would have been several hours any other night and be all upset for a week about possibly not getting a drug I am legally prescribed is disgusting.
My friend's husband told me to fly to Sacramento and get what they have. For some, it will come to that. Disgusting.
Forgot to address the DEA thing. People are weeping at pharmacies and there's no shortage? Right. And I don't find the regular non-generic either, and in this economy, if some people will have to go without food to get a non-generic of their prescription, if they can even find it, well, that's messed up.
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 7:12 AM
So what's the Adderall for?
>> This is a mostly Latino area. I didn't see anybody at the pharmacy in line who wasn't Latino.
Latinos dont take Adderall. They take naps.
-just kidding-
Eric at January 2, 2012 8:32 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889293">comment from EricBad, Eric!
It's just that ADHD is a "trendy" diagnosis. West-side LA parents are more likely to consider whether their kid has it, because their social circle promotes that thinking. There are Latino parents -- and some very wealthy ones -- who live on the west side of Los Angeles. It's not a race thing but a social class thing, I think.
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 8:53 AM
Looks like mainstream has noticed:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45839387/ns/health-the_new_york_times/
SwissArmyD at January 2, 2012 12:06 PM
Okay, I get the freeway problem. It just didn't occur to me that someone organized enough to write and speak well would have problems with streets. Hey, you even control how fast you reach the next street sign.
You know, the fact that you knew to go to "less-trendy" areas to get your supply reveals something interesting: you're actually in competition with those who don't actually need Adderall. Which is the point of DEA limitations.
Radwaste at January 2, 2012 12:50 PM
We just had a very sad situation on New Year's Eve. An addict robbed our local pharmacy (we are small town USA) and 3 off duty cops responded because they were nearby and one off duty cop was killed. It is a terrible tragedy and he was someone who really supported the local community. His death should be mourned but people are using at as excuse to ban every type of substance from pain killers to cough syrup. One person even acknowledged her son was using canned whip cream as an inhalant. I asked her if that should be illegal as well but she did not answer.
On a different note, a local assemblyman is trying to get a bill passed requiring all parents of kids from 9-12 grades to get mandatory yearly drug tests. Any child not getting the test will not be permitted entry to school. Parents are actually behind it believing that will solve the drug problem.
Kristen at January 2, 2012 1:28 PM
Jim P. at January 2, 2012 2:37 PM
I wouldn't get on an L.A. freeway in a Honda Insight either. That said, I've driven in places in the U.S. that are a lot worse. In L.A., most of the traffic moves at the same speed, and if you go with the traffic flow, it's usually not a problem. Try that in, say, Miami.
Cousin Dave at January 2, 2012 3:55 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889779">comment from RadwasteIt just didn't occur to me that someone organized enough to write and speak well would have problems with streets.
I don't have problems with streets -- I have problems seeing street signs that aren't large print when it's dark. I see the road fine -- I wouldn't drive if I put others at risk. I sometimes will just get off at the wrong exit and figure things out. As far as controlling how fast you reach the next street sign goes, you have to go at pace with traffic or it's dangerous.
And normally, I don't really drive anywhere. I've arranged my life that way. I'm an excellent driver -- ready for people to leap off the sidewalk in front of my car while reading their iPhone at any moment. (I am terrified of ever hurting somebody, even if it's their fault, and drive accordingly.)
And I try to be very considerate about when I do drive. Taking Adderall has really changed my exhaustion level on deadline nights -- I'm more like a normal person who's worked a long day than a girl who's spent 12 hours wrestling a tiger. But, if I'm weary, and I'm scheduled to be on KABC radio, Gregg comes all the way from Fairfax district to about a mile from the beach, drives me to KABC, and then home, and then drives home. And believe me, I'm careful about boyfriend wear-and-tear...I don't take this lightly, that he does this, but there are times I just am too tired to drive, and I'm well-aware of them.
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 4:32 PM
Amy I'm curious--does taking Adderall improve your attention driving? I ask because I was recently diagnosed with adult ADHD and prescribed Adderall (fortunately the shortage is not as problematic in my part of the country), and the final straw/biggest reason for me to seek psychiatric help was inattentive driving. Forgetting to mail my rent check or being unable to study for a test won't kill me, but distracted driving could and literally might have several months ago. I haven't been behind the wheel of a car since, but I'm hoping that the Adderall may help, so curious as to your experience.
Shannon at January 2, 2012 8:07 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2889968">comment from ShannonI don't drive very far (usually just a couple miles to get my mail once a week) and I drive a few miles more to coffee shops where I write, and I work very, very hard to pay attention while driving, so...sorry...I don't know. I haven't been taking Adderall much this past week -- been rationing it -- but I imagine it helps my focus on everything, including driving. I think the best thing for my driving attention is feeling that other drivers are all mascara-applying, cellphone chatting, hamburger eaters behind the wheel and that they're all out to kill me. I drive defensively and somewhat in terror. The adrenalin may improve my focus!
Amy Alkon at January 2, 2012 8:16 PM
Perfect quote from facebook:
I suffer from...ooh, look, a rainbow!
The Former Banker at January 4, 2012 11:22 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-2893132">comment from The Former BankerRe: Rainbow...
When I'm not working at it, that's the sort of conversation Gregg hears!
Amy Alkon at January 5, 2012 12:57 AM
And you are exactly the reason why I laugh at so called blogger/reporters, my dear. You mention you despise the nanny state primarily bc you "heard" the dea aka big govt is withholding ingredients and therefore Pharm. companies can't make your rx available... but the keyword in this case is "you heard" AND NOT you "found out/researched/investigated", like any worthwhile citizen would do. You have no idea about Shire's patent expirations and Teva and Abbott's inability to manufacture quickly enough, then Shire's (probably) purposeful mangling of generic orders to reduce adderalls market availability in order to create higher demand for vyvanse (as an alternative). You don't know it's all about money, do you? I guess you only know how to rehash others "thoughts" as valid, thereby further propagating disinformation and untruths... Guess that's why you're a blogger though, right?
Daub zero at October 12, 2012 5:04 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-3379016">comment from Daub zeroAnd you are exactly the reason why I laugh at so called blogger/reporters, my dear.
And you're why I laugh at assholes.
Actually, I got my little ass on the phone and talked to Barbara Carreno at the DEA, among others.
I called the drug companies -- Sandoz and others. It's probably reported that I did so in other post, but this post wasn't about that.
I try to avoid assuming things about people when I actually know nothing about their actions, but hey, keep up the good work.
Does the condescending dickwad act serve you well in your life, or do you just do it when you're commenting anonymously on blogs to make yourself feel better?
Amy Alkon at October 12, 2012 5:57 PM
I'm glad man-made amphetamines are helping you. Back in the day and before anybody in the world was diagnosed with ADHD and ADD people used it for staying up all night partying and drinking.
Dave Rabbitt at September 23, 2013 4:33 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/01/02/got_adderall.html#comment-3931821">comment from Dave RabbittI can take an Adderall and take a nap.
Amy Alkon at September 23, 2013 6:01 AM
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