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.

  • TankieTanuki [he/him]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    [Buy n Large’s lawyers asserted] throughout the years that their local pharmacists were merely filling doctor-ordered prescriptions of federally approved medications.
    Plaintiffs’ lawyers countered that the pharmacists showed flagrant disregard of the tragedies accruing outside their doors, as vast quantities of prescription painkillers, often wildly disproportionate to local populations, were being diverted to drug dealers and sold illegally.

    I’m not usually one to defend large corporations but I don’t see how the opioid epidemic was the fault of the pharmacies (unless they were filling prescriptions for “Mickey Mouse”). Is it their job to invalidate diagnoses? The pharmacist I talked to was mad that doctors haven’t been scrutinized to the same degree. It’s probably a healthcare sector power hierarchy thing. We should take Buy n Large’s money but for different reasons.

    • ClimateChangeAnxiety [he/him, they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Is it their job to invalidate diagnoses?

      Nope. It’s their job to verify medications match the diagnoses given and don’t conflict with other medications or diagnoses of the patient. But if the doctor says a patient has ADHD, the pharmacist is expected to believe them.

      • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
        0·
        1 year ago

        Right now many pharmacies are hopelessly understaffed with bad pay and working conditions. Even if most pharmacists wanted to live up to their responsibilities as a doctor responsible for their patients health and wellbeing they’re being worked to the bone and treated horribly by the corporations.

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

              former corporate retail pharmacist here. that posting was likely for a technician role. at least I hope so. corporate retail pharmacy is a fucking dumpster fire right now but I don’t think it’s reached quite that level yet.

              replied to the wrong comment! this was meant for the one above.