The thing is, there is reason to believe that these shortages are exactly what the DEA wants. Shire Pharmaceuticals has convinced the DEA that Vyvanse is the solution to the adderall abuse problem, and the DEA apparently doesn't understand that the American healthcare system simply doesn't allow everybody on generics to switch to an expensive name-brand medication. They're basically trying to manipulate the marketplace in order to force patients to switch to a drug that they expect to be easier to control. Of course, economics aside, Vyvanse is not a drop in replacement for adderall, and many people find it less effective or more prone to side effects.
So it's also a good example of a government regulation that isn't in sync with medical science.
So it's also a good example of a government regulation that isn't in sync with medical science.