Darrin Bull: ADHD NZ spokesperson on the global shortage of ADHD meds impacting Kiwis

There's a widespread global shortage of ADHD medication - and it's hitting Kiwis hard.

A survey by ADHD New Zealand of people prescribed with ADHD medication found that over half were struggling to get what they needed - and one third of respondents were worried they would lose their jobs if they weren't properly medicated.

ADHD New Zealand spokesperson Darrin Bull says people in schools and universities are also struggling under the current shortage.

"This is a global issue - it's just not New Zealand, there are particular issues in the UK and Australia as well. It's a supply chain issue."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now it looks like we're going to be hit or

(00:01):
already being hit by the problems that we have with
shortages of ADHD medication. What's been going on is that
there is a survey that suggests about one half of
people who are actually prescribed ADHD medication cannot access at
the moment. Darren Bull is the chairperson of ADHD New
Zealand and with us.

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Now, Hey Darren, hi, Heather, how are you going very well?

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Thank you. Apparently people are worried about losing their jobs
if they can't get a hold of this medication. Is
that reasonable?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
Yeah, there are some of our members who have taught
to us about the pressure they face without having access
to the medication, and we do hear that. We also
hear stories about people in the university and schools also struggling.
Just to correct their opening statement, we're not saying that
fifty percent or so on medication are missing out. Those

(00:54):
are those who highlighted in our survey how many people
were having problems.

Speaker 1 (00:59):
Because it what's the difference.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
It's just a small symp size. We went through basically
putting a quantitative study around the stories that we're hearing.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah, now, now I'm asking you what's the difference between
what I said and what you said? What's material there?
Because we want to get this right.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
So there are approximately fifty five thousand New Zealanders on medication.
Not all of them are having shortages. Those who are
having shortages are the ones that are suffering or right struggling.

Speaker 1 (01:32):
Fair enough, Now what is going on, Darren? Why are
people Why do we have this shortage? Is this a
case of manufacturing dropping off or is it a case
of overprescription going on?

Speaker 2 (01:42):
No, it's manufacturing dropping off. This is a global issue.
It's just not New Zealand. There are particular issues in
the UK and Australia as well. It is supply chain
issues and also issues of some manufacturers facing challenges getting
the raw material that they might need for the medicaid.
It's been going on for about a year, so it's

(02:03):
not a new problem.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
Is there a case of overprescription as well?

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Look, certainly there is an increase in demand worldwide with
ADHD medication and if you talk to ADHD UK in particular,
they talk about the increase in women seeking medication in
New Zealand. There was a Tiger University research which came
out last year in the New Zealand Medical Journal, which
highlighted a huge treatment gap in New Zealand. We're erp

(02:32):
point six percent of the adult population was receiving treatment
for ADHD, but we estimate that two point six percent
of adults with ADHD might need help. So it is
really hard to get a diagnosis. So we don't think
it's over prescribed or over treated.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
If you like in useum, how bad is it these
people who are getting it from their mates and getting
it on the black market and stuff like that.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, so I'm talking to our community that doesn't seem
to be up. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but
we have little evidence of that. I hasten to add.
It's illegal and if you do have a shortage, you
can't get the medication you need. Your first port of
core needs to be your chief.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
I just got a text from Ben that says my
neighbors just got raided by the cops for selling their
ADHD ritz meds twenty dollars a pill. Is the going rate?
Is that right?

Speaker 2 (03:24):
I haven't heard that. I'm surprised about that, and surely
the police have other things to look at.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
No, No, you won't know. Darren you won't know about
that is twenty dollars a pill the going rate.

Speaker 2 (03:35):
Not I haven't heard that at all, that at all.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
Yeah, all right, Darren, thanks very much. Really appreciated Darren
Bull chairperson ADHD and said, I won't name any names,
but I will say that there are people near and
dear to me who've diagnosed themselves with ADHD and they're
getting the pills from their friends and then taking it
and saying it's making their life really awesome. Yeah, we'll

(03:59):
just leave it at that. So it's definitely happening out there,
and I think it's happening at quite a rate, judging
by what I'm hearing. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive,
listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio