US Facing Worst Drug Shortage Crisis Ever: Putting Patients at Risk

Latest data from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHSP) and the University of Utah Drug Information Service shows that Americans are experiencing record-high shortages of vital medicines.

In the first quarter of 2024, ASHSP and the University of Utah's newest drug shortage report show a record-high of 323 drugs in limited supply. The number of shortages surpassed the peak of 320 in 2014, according to HealthDay.

US Drug Shortages Must Be Addressed ASAP

ASHSP CEO Paul Abramowitz said, "It's long past time to put an end to drug shortages," warning of shortages of generic sterile injectable pharmaceuticals, including cancer chemotherapy and emergency treatments, across all pharmacological classes.

The database also indicates shortages in several medicine classes, including intravenous fluids, hormone agents, antimicrobials, and central nervous system stimulants. The information was gathered by verifying data from practitioners, patients, and other sources with drugmakers.

ASHSP also noted that ADHD drug shortages continue to worry doctors and patients. ADHD medication Adderall has an impact, as per a report from ABC News. According to the FDA, the scarcity started in late 2022 due to a production delay and is now demand-driven.

According to U.S. government data, the average medicine shortage lasts 18 months; however, IQVIA found that over half of current shortages have lasted over two years.

Supply chain disruptions or rising customer demand can cause shortages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently suggested medication shortage prevention policies. Hospitals and drugmakers should collaborate more to improve market transparency and fund supply chains.

Abramowitz questions hospitals' ability to adopt these suggestions due to budgetary and personnel restrictions. He stated, "Much work remains to be done at the federal level to fix the root causes of drug shortages."

(Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A Publix Supermarket pharmacy manager retrieves a bottle of antibiotics from the shelf August 7, 2007 in Miami, Florida.

An FDA official said the agency can expedite supplement reviews to add active ingredients or capacity amid shortages. However, specific actions are considered exclusive trade knowledge.

In March 2023, the Senate Homeland Security Committee reported that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened years of drug shortages in the U.S. The study noted that shortages delay, substitute, or deny patients treatment.

At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing earlier this year, practitioners, researchers, and pharmaceutical industry executives stressed the cost burden of medicine shortages on patients. Patients often use more expensive alternatives, adding to their financial burden.

Websites Selling Fake Drugs Shut Down

In a separate development, cybersecurity firm BrandShield shut down over 250 websites peddling fraudulent weight-loss and diabetic treatments. This endeavor addresses the rising issue of online counterfeit drugs.

BrandShield CEO Yoav Keren said that most of the targeted websites sold counterfeit GLP-1 medications, which treat metabolic problems.

Counterfeiting occurred for Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound, as well as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. These medications were originally intended to treat type 2 diabetes but have now become popular for weight management.

The high demand for these pharmaceuticals has made counterfeiters rich. BrandShield's activities follow reports of GLP-1 drug-related damage in Belgium, Britain, Switzerland, and the US.

The problem is widespread, with 95% of internet pharmacies operating illegally, according to studies. BrandShield has closed 90% of GLP-1 counterfeit pharmaceutical websites.

Last year, BrandShield discovered 1,655 websites selling counterfeit hormone-related, central nervous system, and cancer pharmaceuticals. This takedown represents a large fraction of them.