By Sydney Tyler
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) –
The 2022 drug shortage list is growing each day. With more than 100 medications unavailable or in low supply, people are wondering what that means for their treatment options.
In addition to the shortage, prices of medications continue to rise and insurance does not always cover the full cost.
With a population of more than three hundred million people only fifty seven percent of working adults were adequately insured in 2022, according to the CommonWealth Fund.
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services says, “several drugs increased their list prices by more than $20,000 or by more than 500%. There were 1,216 products whose price increases during the twelve-month period from July 2021 to July 2022 exceeded the inflation rate of 8.5% for that time period. The average price increase for these drugs was 31.6%.”
Access to affordable life saving medication is something many Americans struggle with.
The 2022 drug shortage has left many without proper treatment options for various conditions.
According to the Food and Drug Administration the leading causes of drug shortages are due to manufacturing quality problems, production delays, and product discontinuations.
Click here for current drug shortages. These shortages are impacting treatment for the common cold, Diabetes, Cancers, ADHD, the list goes on.
DIABETES
According to the CDC one in ten individuals in the U.S have diabetes and one in five are unaware they are diabetic.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that impacts the body’s ability to turn food into energy. The body breaks down consumed food into glucose that is released into the body’s bloodstream. As blood sugar levels increase there is a signal that is sent to the pancreas to release insulin.
Diabetes prohibits the body from properly using or making insulin.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and can lead to kidney failure, and adult blindness.
According to the CDC the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled in the last twenty years.
There are three common types of Diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes is typically diagnosed in children or young adults. Because this reaction stops the body from making insulin, Type 1 diabetics have to take insulin daily.
Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form, more than ninety percent of diabetics are diagnosed with Type 2. This form of Diabetes develops over time and is commonly diagnosed in adults. Diabetics diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes are unable to keep their blood sugar levels normal because the body does not use insulin well.
The third most common form is Gestational Diabetes. This is found in pregnant women who did not have diabetes prior. Typically this form of diabetes does not last after the baby is born but it does increase the risk of health complications in the baby and Type 2 diabetes in both the baby and mom, according to the CDC.
There currently is no cure for Diabetes. Those with Type 1 and some Type 2 diabetics take insulin daily to combat their Diabetes.
Ethan Baxter, a Type 1 diabetic takes Humalog daily, a fast acting insulin that begins to work 15 minutes after injection. Baxter said without insulin his quality of life would suffer.
“I wouldn’t just instantly die if I didn’t have insulin, but if I go without it for even just a few hours I feel really sick. I get body aches and headaches that feel like the flu or COVID along with an awful taste in my mouth that lasts for up to a couple of days. Yes, I need insulin to survive but I also need it to have a livable life,” Baxter said.
Insulin is one of the various drugs impacted by the drug shortage in the U.S. but more than the drug itself, diabetics are struggling to find other necessary tools.
“More than insulin itself I have had issues getting my insulin pumps. The insulin pumps deliver the insulin with dexcom’s which check my blood sugar,” said Baxter.
Living with Diabetes is a challenge, Baxter says and he does not want to have to worry about getting his hands on products that are keeping him alive.
“It’s terrifying, I do not want to worry about having enough insulin or pumps to keep me healthy. This is life or death for some people, so many people are being affected by this shortage.”
PREVYMIS
Nic Jackson, a University of Arkansas student was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2021 and in January of 2022 Jackson was cancer free and began his recovery process after a bone marrow transplant.
Leukemia is a blood cancer that does not allow the body to properly fight infections.
Jackson is immunocompromised from his stem cell transplant and one of the medications that was used to help fight that is Prevymis.
“It helps protect me from viral infections, it is like adding an extra layer of security and protection,” Jackson said.
Jackson is far enough along in his recovery journey where he is less concerned with access to Prevymis but this could be an issue for patients who are just starting the process.
ADHD AND ADDERALL
More than a pill taken by a college student cramming for finals, Adderall is a drug that is used by individuals to complete daily tasks.
Adderall is a medication primarily designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The controlled substance is a combination of Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine. These stimulants help improve focus.
There were complications surrounding Adderall before the 2022 drug shortage.
“It’s already a struggle to get Adderall just because it’s a commonly misused medicine so there are already restrictions on it in general and the shortage has added to that a lot, which is not ideal,” said Karissa Kruse.
For Kruse, a University of Arkansas graduate student, Adderall is more than a pill that helps her sit still during lectures or knock out 5 hours of homework. She uses the drug to complete everyday tasks and improve her mental health.
“I have hyperactivity in the form of talking, my ADHD causes me to interrupt conversations and talk more than I maybe should sometimes. It might not sound like a big deal but this has been a huge source of insecurity for me. It’s a huge struggle for me, it’s frustrating to feel like you don’t have control over the words coming out of your mouth at any given time. Regaining control over that has had a huge impact on my life, my mental health has improved and I am more confident,” said Kruse.
Millions of people in the U.S. have ADHD, and according to the CDC 3 out of 4 children diagnosed are receiving treatment currently.
These diagnostics can look different for each individual. While there are options for treatment outside of medications such as “Adderall” some diagnosed have found medication to be what works for them.
“It is scary to think that if this shortage continues one day I could be without my medicine, I don’t know what else I would do, it’s a very real fear not being able to get those medications,” said Kruse.
HOW THIS IMPACTS HEALTH CARE WORKERS
People across the nation have been impacted by supply chain issues, and the 2022 drug shortage goes further than pharmacies not having specific medications.
Many hospitals and businesses are feeling these impacts as well. Bryan Onyekwelu is a healthcare professional in Little Rock who shared some of the struggles they are facing due to the shortage.
“I got into healthcare in order to help people, having these shortages can make that difficult, there are back orders on supplies that I use on a daily basis. It impacts my job, it is an issue that needs to be addressed and fixed as soon as possible,” Onyekwelu said.
He said that his hospital has even had issues keeping certain foods in stock for patients.
Another issue both Onykwelu and Kruse shared was their concerns with generic brand medications that are being substituted due to the drug shortage.
“With my patients I have seen patients be allergic to the generic brand of medicines that have to be replaced because their medicines are not available at our hospital or their pharmacy or whatever it may be,” Onyekwelu said.
“I had to switch to a generic version of Adderall, which essentially does the same thing but our bodies react differently to different medications and that has been an adjustment for me just navigating that change,” said Kruse.
WHAT COULD THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE
The list of medications being impacted by the drug shortage is growing each day. The FDA warns the public that these shortages could last at least into the new year.