DEA Adjusts Stimulant Production Quotas Amid Ongoing ADHD Medication Shortages in 2025

Author: Benjamin Zohar, NCACIP – Nationally Certified Advanced Addiction Intervention Professional

Introduction

In late 2024 and into 2025, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued updated Aggregate Production Quotas (APQs) for stimulant medications, including the active ingredients used in Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) and methylphenidate-based medications. These quota changes were formalized through official DEA and Federal Register publications.

DEA Confirms Updated 2024–2025 Stimulant Quotas

The DEA’s official quota proposal and revision for stimulant active ingredients was published in the Federal Register, outlining increases for d-amphetamine, l-amphetamine, and methylphenidate to accommodate ongoing medical need:

These documents outline federal expectations for stimulant manufacturing volumes and acknowledge increased therapeutic demand for Schedule II ADHD medications.

Shortages Continue Despite Quota Actions

Even with updated quotas, several stimulant formulations remain officially in shortage in 2025. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — the leading authority on U.S. medication shortages — continues to list multiple amphetamine and methylphenidate products as unavailable or intermittently scarce.

These shortages affect both brand-name and generic formulations, reflecting limitations in manufacturing capacity, API availability, and distribution variability.

Why the Quota Increase Matters

The DEA quota system regulates the total amount of Schedule II stimulant active ingredients that manufacturers may legally produce each year. Adjustments such as those in the 2024–2025 update indicate federal recognition of increasing ADHD prevalence and rising prescription demand.

However, higher quotas do not automatically resolve shortages. Manufacturers may still face:

Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) shortages
Production bottlenecks and backlogs
Distribution challenges across pharmacies and regions
Post-pandemic increases in diagnostic rates and treatment initiation

Evidence of Treatment Disruption

Recent peer-reviewed research confirms that stimulant shortages have already shifted prescribing and dispensing patterns. Data from a 2025 study in Pediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics) documented a national decline in amphetamine-based stimulant dispensing and a compensatory increase in alternative ADHD medications.

AAP Pediatrics (2025): Changes in Stimulant Dispensing to U.S. Children and Adolescents

This confirms that the shortage is affecting clinical practice directly, leading to substitution patterns and interrupted medication continuity for many families.

What Patients and Providers Should Know

Quota increases are a regulatory step — not an immediate fix
Pharmacy-level stock can still vary week to week
Some manufacturers may not use their full quota due to supply constraints
Patients may need to explore alternative pharmacies or formulations under clinician guidance

FDA and HHS recommend checking accredited pharmacies and avoiding unverified online sources:

Conclusion

The DEA’s stimulant quota revisions for 2024–2025 represent a significant regulatory acknowledgment of rising ADHD treatment needs. However, the 2025 ADHD medication shortage persists due to complex supply-chain, manufacturing, and distribution factors. Ongoing monitoring from ASHP, FDA, and the DEA remains essential as providers and patients navigate disrupted access to critical medications.

About the Author

Benjamin Zohar, NCACIP is a Nationally Certified Advanced Addiction Intervention Professional specializing in treatment access, family systems support, and crisis stabilization during medication shortages.

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