In a few hours, I will begin a two-hour (one-way) drive to the pharmacy to pick up a 30-day supply of generic Adderall.

It’s not for a lack of any closer pharmacies, and it’s not because of the stimulant shortage. I have to drive this far because of new DEA rules.

I used to get Adderall from my local Buy n Large pharmacy without a problem, until a few weeks ago. I asked the head pharmacist what had changed, and he explained everything to me while expressing extreme sympathy for my situation. Apparently, the DEA recently sued Buy n Large for $3 billion for “not doing enough to keep drugs from flowing into communities”, and part of the settlement agreement included a new restriction: that controlled substances can only be dispensed if the prescribing physician is local (defined as within 50 miles). He recommended I try other pharmacies in town, but all others I called had taken up a similar policy.

I live in a rural area which, like most rural areas in America, is underserved by healthcare specialists including psychiatrists. When I moved here, I had to drive two and a half hours to the nearest megacity in order to be seen by a psychiatrist in a timely manner (<90 days). I do most follow-up appointments by webcam so it wasn’t too much of a problem… until now.

I like to create original media. Nearly every piece of worthwhile art I’ve ever created was made possible by my medication. The periods I go without it are the dark ages of my life. That’s why I’m willing to make the drive today.

It pisses me off that I have to waste so much time, energy, and gasoline because a cop in a boardroom somewhere decided that too many people were getting Adderall and the best way to combat this “problem” would be to make it more of a pain in the ass for people to get.

  • Red Wizard 🪄
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    1 year ago

    I know Adderall is a Schedule II drug, so I’m not sure what the legality is around getting it mailed to you, but you should check with your insurance to see if that’s an option, unless you’ve already tried that.

      • putridfairytale [he/him]@hexbear.net
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        1 year ago

        I’m so sorry you have to deal with this OP, but this may be the best advice for now. Controlled substance prescriptions are generally allowed to be mailed from a dispensing pharmacy, but you are correct in checking with state law. Hope you find something.

      • Red Wizard 🪄
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        1 year ago

        Oof I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. I know Vyvance has a generic now, not sure how the price compares but it’s been good for me. Good luck comrade!

          • Red Wizard 🪄
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            1 year ago

            Yeah I started on Adderall years ago but never could build the habit to take it every day. Even when I did take it, it didn’t feel like it did much. Then I was off meds for a long time, got back on a few years ago and man, it was kind of mind blowing how functional I felt after. Like, I couldn’t even get through a few pages of a book before taking it, and now I have no issues reading for as long as I want.

            Now that it’s generic, that’s just icing on it all.

          • Red Wizard 🪄
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            1 year ago

            That sucks, they wrote me a script for it this refill without asking me lol. I think it delayed the refill some. But I’ll take the cheaper price.