“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” - Helen Keller

Wednesday. Who could have imagined pickleball would impact the stock price of health insurance companies? That’s right — pickleball has been crowned the fastest-growing sport in America over the past couple of years, and with it has come a steep rise in pickleball-related injuries and surgeries, costing health insurance companies a pretty penny in the process. We love that more Americans are spending time outdoors, playing and enjoying this sport. The challenge now is to find effective ways to mitigate the risk of injuries (here’s a hint: strength training). Moving on — do you know what America loves more than pickleball? Adderall. Let’s dive in.

We Love Adderall, But There Isn’t Enough

Recent shortages of the stimulant Adderall have sparked a nationwide conversation about the drug’s role in American lives. It’s estimated that over 19 million children and adults in the U.S. rely on this prescription medication for maintaining focus and productivity in their everyday lives. However, these shortages have compelled many Americans to reassess their dependence on this pharmaceutical solution and its impact on their identity and daily functioning.

Interestingly, there’s a considerable demographic of young adults who have been on Adderall since their adolescent years and are now questioning whether they were simply energetic teenagers who were handed a quick fix. These young adults are now left to wonder what life would have been without the drug.

At the same time, there is also a growing concern about the misuse of Adderall. It’s estimated that over 5 million people misuse prescription stimulants, either through expired prescriptions or black market sources. In the wake of this shortage, some are resorting to risky alternatives like psychedelic mushrooms or counterfeit versions of Adderall, which can contain life-threatening substances such as fentanyl or methamphetamine.

Authorities and health officials have become increasingly attentive to the easy accessibility and misuse of Adderall and other ADHD drugs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings about the potential for addiction, particularly among individuals who do not have an ADHD diagnosis but use Adderall to enhance their studying or as a party drug.

So why are we running low on Adderall? The shortage can be attributed to multiple causes, including manufacturing delays, federal regulations on the production of controlled substances, and a rapid increase in prescriptions. Over recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in online medical providers willing to prescribe Adderall quickly. This practice was particularly common during the COVID-19 lockdowns when working from home presented additional distractions for many people.

Nothing like a little Adderall to help you focus while the kids are screaming and the dogs are barking at the UPS guy, I guess.

Social media platforms, specifically TikTok, also haven’t helped. The ease of self-diagnosis and the potential for obtaining prescriptions online has been widely shared, leading to increased self-diagnosis and a more substantial market for online therapy and medication platforms. Adderall has turned into a TikTok trend, except this trend is a little more troublesome than some silly dance or an ice bucket challenge.

Not so surprisingly, rapid online diagnosis and prescription services might not be thorough enough to identify complex medical situations, leading to misguided prescriptions and potentially exacerbating mental health conditions. We think of these services as providing easy access to those who need them, but the truth is they might be doing more harm than good.

The key takeaway? The shortage of Adderall we are seeing today highlights the importance of the drug for those who need it. It also emphasizes the substantial number of individuals misusing or illicitly obtaining it. While Adderall can significantly improve the quality of life for those struggling with ADHD, misuse or over-reliance can lead to serious health and societal consequences — precisely what we are dealing with right now.

What do we do about it? I don’t know, but maybe drugs shouldn’t be the first lever we pull when dealing with an active kid. Maybe kids just need to spend more time outside playing sports (pickleball?) and running around. Perhaps the kids aren’t the problem when they can’t focus. Maybe the way our education system is set up is the problem.

Maybe. Just maybe.

Tonic Shots

1. Salmon — The Natural Brain Boost We All Need!

No prescription necessary here. Boost your brain with the health fats in salmon with this recipe!

2. Unlock The Brain Boosting Benefits of Walnuts With This Salad!

I can’t make the prescription joke again with this recipe, but you get the point. Walnuts are great for your brain — give this a try

3. Chicken Fajitas, But Healthy

I didn’t know fajitas weren’t healthy, but here is a recipe that skips the tortillas… if you are avoiding those extra carbs!

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