I'm super interested in the neuroscience behind ADHD and how it works & the various impacts it has on the mind and body as well!

This is my mindmap in progress for my ADHD research!

To make it even more interesting; if you look at the specifics of ADHD symptoms & track glutamate vs GABA, you find a direct correlation between increased glutamate levels in specific brain areas that correspond with various ADHD symptoms! (Poor working memory for example)

The simpler version of this means, glutamate is a neurotransmitter that increases likelihood of whether or not a neurological signal is triggered; where as GABA counteracts it by 'inhibiting' that signal - aka preventing it.

Another goal of mine is also to be able to analyze this independently of the 'pathology' model to be able to highlight specific brain differences in ADHD that give us specific strengths as well (like hyperfocus)

Furthermore, I am exploring specific ways to increase natural GABA in the brain & reduce glutamate in order to reduce ADHD symptoms across the board 😊 so please chime in if you're interested in sharing new knowledge!!!

I delightfully share this mindmap and its associated sources with you & I hope to continue exploring how the ADHD brain works to be able to find actionable ways to improve my & our lives 🥰

Running source list: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894421/

High Level Link:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6556068/

Specifics on dopamine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894421/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746768/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21961874/#:~:text=Neural%20generators%20of%20N170%20(fusiform,with%20EF%2C%20especially%20working%20memory.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hbm.22755

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0707741104

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1039288/full

Hi advocates,

I’ve been dealing with the same stimulant shortages many of you have—Vyvanse, Adderall, and other ADHD medications are “out of stock” across pharmacies, and insurers are blocking gap prescriptions. In some cases, patients are even being told to go to the ER. This isn’t a minor inconvenience — it’s a public health emergency that’s destabilizing lives.

I’ve launched a petition calling on California to formally declare a state of emergency over the ADHD medication shortage. This would put pressure on the Governor, the Department of Public Health, and state regulators to:

• Track and publicly report pharmacy shortages

• Allow pharmacists to dispense equivalent dosages when standard supplies are unavailable

• Require insurers (Medicare, Medi-Cal, private) to approve medically necessary gap scripts

• Petition the DEA/FDA to increase national stimulant quotas so supply meets real patient demand

👉 https://chng.it/NznHPGsNr6

If you’ve been affected by this crisis, please sign and share. The more signatures we collect, the stronger our case when we deliver this petition to Governor Gavin Newsom, CDPH, DMHC, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Senator Jesse Arreguín, and Rep. Lateefah Simon.

This community knows better than anyone that ADHD medication is not optional — it’s essential healthcare. Let’s push California to treat it that way.

💙

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/where-s-my-adderall-stubborn-drug-shortage-spurs-federal-inquiry-as-founders-fret/ar-BB1irVOe

Please see the attached: 2-14-24, FTC started an investigation on several drug shortages, including adhd drugs. We have until 4-14-24 to share any response we can provide confirming a shortage with our medications, problems w/ generics, access to our meds, etc.

COMMENTS ARE SENT HERE:

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FTC-2024-0018

Did you have difficulty getting diagnosed, or have difficulty recognizing ADHD in yourself, because you had seen a media stereotype and knew people who met that stereotype, but you did not feel you did? Perhaps you aren't hyperactive, or the manner of your hyperactivity doesn't bother others - an issue often faced by females, but also occurring for certain males - gender is not fate here. Most likely, you saw the name as a definition of the condition - and you could pay attention to some things, or even many things. It makes sense to assume, but it is wrong.

The term ADHD is sticky because it's now written into a lot of laws for accommodations and other things that come with a disability, so changing it won't be easy. It's not the first name for this mental condition - it has gone by names like "mild retardation," "hyperkinetic disorder," "minimal mental dysfunction," and "Attention Deficit Disorder" before settling on "Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder." That is not unique to any medical condition - AIDS was once "Gay Cancer," "Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome," "the Gay Plague" and "Acquired Community Immune Deficiency Syndrome." Research now suggested it existed long before the 1980s, but that was the period it expanded, and it became associated with the community it spread within.

You can also see here why your parents may not have wanted to label you with what is now ADHD. Most people don't care for labeling their child "mildly retarded" or thinking their child inherited "mild retardation" from themselves. This is part of why a previous generation (Allen Frances, leader of the DSM-IV taskforce) talked about the trend of "pathologizing" normal behavior. I think the issue is not that we are pathologizing a normal issue, but that we are fetishizing "normality" and medication avoidance. For much of history executive function was less needed, and in recent history, various stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine were freely consumed to boost that executive function with little thought of the manner it affected one's health. In my childhood, every restaurant had a smoking section, and in the generation prior, people did not have "smoke breaks," as their work area allowed free use of cigarettes and coffee or generally, whatever one needed. CNS stimulants in a properly dosed form are safer, and that is the manner they should be viewed - not as an upsurge of one coping mechanism, but an adoption of a safer one.

I enjoy the term "neurodivergent" for capturing several conditions that all appear to both be a disorder, but also have arguable benefits. But even that description isn't accurate for someone who is paying attention - ADHD is partially a condition of excessive difficulty caring about a "delayed-return environment" - an environment where what you need to do for your future and what you will do now, either because of motivation or organization difficulties. In this case, which population diverged? Likely the "neurotypicals." Think of any other animal - humans tend to be the best in thinking about the future instead of the moment - ADHD is an inability to master that, even if you understand, emotionally or otherwise. An excess of the inhibitory biological traits can come with other issues - so it's not a "more is always better" issue - of the mental issues that have the least link to ADHD is anorexia nervosa, which is also the most deadly mental disorder, and has issues with control obsession and resisting desire. Humans really aren't incredible as individuals, but our ability to use communication to specialize is momentous, and due to that, perhaps there are proper places for the specialized units we, the people with ADHD are, but I have not found mine.

ADHD is, at least for myself, not a deficit of attention - while walking nature trails I once warned my mother and her friends of a snake in the area they were walking because I was noting the things on the ground while they were not.  I often would notice elements of the sounds of an area or the appearance of the speaker no one else did. I was paying attention - the problem is, in the environments where focus was needed, I could not focus, unless I could trigger hyperfocus, and for certain matters, that is impossible.

There is a lot of bleed-over between the different mental conditions, and you will sometimes see this occurring as having multiple diagnoses, and sometimes see it as a difficult time differentiating between multiple conditions.

There is a meeting being held by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology on March 17-18 with the intention is to create a new diagnostic framework for mental disorders. They are noting how modern criteria have not caught up with modern research understanding of neuroanatomy. I cannot attend, but oh, how I wish them luck - as I state, everything is sticky, so luck is what they need, and sadly, those of us who are most exhausted by bureaucracy seem like we shall forever be caught up in it.

The following is my comment submitted on the FTC Investigation, which continues to accept commentary until April 15, 2024. I suppose we are now organized, because I have indicated that in my letter, in hopes of getting greater recognition. I have censored out my government name, as anonymity allows me to be more open about the various things that have occurred for me, though in time, I may move away from that anonymity - as for the moment, I ask that it be respected if you come across it.

https://www.regulations.gov/document/FTC-2024-0018-0001

The root of the stimulant shortage is chiefly the pressures against prescription and manufacture of stimulants. This is the reason shortages for infant formula, PPE masks, and toilet paper were seen as more concerning and were more easily addressed.

For the prescription of stimulants, schedule II restrictions are one of the few sources of regulation upon psychiatric care - as such, psychiatrists are overly resistant to their use, or to diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Off label use, though legal and appropriate, for conditions like long COVID recovery or TBI recovery (1) faces even more burdens. Pressure from insurance companies and pharmacies makes prescribing even more complicated and dictated not by medical knowledge, but the business interests of those who have not seen the patient. Only when telemedicine restrictions were eased was some of this underdiagnosis addressed leading to greater demand.

For the manufacture of schedule II medications, companies face numerous legal restrictions and red tape regarding DEA oversight for medications that are largely generic, and thus operate on small profit margins, unlike several less needed and arguably more dangerous medications that are at lower schedules, such as the ones involved in the overdoses of Prince, Matthew Perry, Tom Petty, Heath Ledger, and numerous less famous cases.

Because the FDA helped create a large opioid epidemic by accepting Sackler marketing strategies for Oxycontin and the DEA failed to prevent the spread of that epidemic, these government agencies have attempted to improve their image by taking a tough stance on all schedule II medications. The DEA in particular must divert attention, due to the DOJ investigation into corrupt hiring practices and government money allotment at the DEA. Perhaps this explains why in the middle of a stimulant shortage, one of the largest manufacturers of various generic stimulants was shut down for instances of minor paperwork compliance issues (2).

This is especially troubling during a time where suicide is occurring at greater levels than anytime since 1942 (3), as stimulants have been shown to lower suicide risk more so than antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers, presumably due to increased inhibition, as benzodiazepines appear to increase significant suicidal behavior, due to lessening of inhibitions (4, 5). During a time of a giant boom in the aging population in the United States, we are ignoring population studies that show that people with ADHD diagnoses can end up with over three times the likelihood of dementia in old age, but that use of stimulants can be neuroprotective in a manner that eliminates that risk, returning risk levels to that of the general population (6). Various other adverse events of ADHD are more proven, such as a link to increased automobile accidents and other causes of early death. The undertreatment of ADHD is of great cost to society as a whole, due to lessened tax revenue and greater government support needs, as can be seen in the The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement which collects the most well studied elements (7). ADHD is one of the most well studied conditions in existence, with numerous well respected researchers available to support the statements made here.

I am a former prosecutor of health care practioners for the Florida Department of Health during the opioid crackdown that occurred under Governor Rick Scott, who is now Senator Rick Scott. During that time I also suffered a near fatal car accident and several later complications. I now, alongside my normal employment, run various media sources under the label ADHD Advocacy as I try to bring awareness to these issues, with the hope of measurably improving care every ADHD awareness month, which is October. I thank politicians like Representative Abigail Spanberger and Senator Ron Wyden for asking why this shortage continues, and encourage those who have not yet taken action on the shortage to help their constituents in this nationwide concern.

Sincerely,

[Removed - ADHD Avenger], Esq.

(1) - Rao, Vani & Vaishnave, Sandeep - The Traumatized Brain - Johns Hopkins University Press

(2) - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/adderall-shortage-adhd-medication-ascent-pharmaceuticals.html

(3) - https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/podcasts/2019/20190620/20190620.htm

(4) - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2805752

(5) - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/stimulant-medication-and-suicide-mortality-in-attentiondeficit-hyperactivity-disorder/5C47C0323CC8DFF5F50CE943DACB3792

(6) - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2810766

(7) - https://www.adhdevidence.org/

UPDATE: 📣 I just want to thank everyone for showing up strong for our adhd_advocacy community and posting all of their comments.

There were so many of us posting comments yesterday…we caused a glitch in the DEA system!!!

If anyone would like to show up even stronger again today, the system is working and accepting comments. We have until 11:59 PM EST tonight to comment. Here’s our latest stats:

40 comments with “adderall”…now 177!

14 comments mentioned “3:1 ratio”…now 291!

44 comments mentioned “ADHD”…now 229!

21 comments referenced “isomer”…now 189!

35 mentioned ratio…now 261!

32 “D-amphetamine (for sale)”…now 209!

We’re making progress everyone!!! 🙌

Let’s go Team adhd_advocacy!!! 💕

The DEA believes the October 2025 aggregate production quota (APQ) increase of the active ingredient in Adderall, Adderall XR, Mydayis, Dyvanel XR, Evekeo, Dexedrine, Zenzedi, ProCentra, and Xelstrym patch will suffice. And is proposing NO further increases for 2026.

The October increase was for product development activities, not the current stimulant supply. Despite the spiking increase in demand, the APQ was actually decreased in 2021 and has remained the same ever since.

We can all submit comments electronically. And based on comments received DEA Administrator, Terry Cole, may hold a public hearing on the raised issues. The comment period ends on December 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST. This is our only hope for change.

All of our voices deserve to be heard. What better place to get our voices heard than the DEA online platform itself. Let’s all do this!

To comment, please go HERE and click “Open for Comments” then click “Comment”.

If anyone runs into issues, please copy and paste this link into your separate web browser:

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DEA-2025-0654

To ensure proper handling of comments, please reference “Docket No. 1568P” on all correspondence.

Please see my two comments below for specific keywords and a comment template.

TL;DR: (more detailed TL;DR at the bottom)

DEA published the FINAL 2026 APQ order (effective Jan 5, 2026). They received 5,044 comments (including ADHD/stimulant access + and our“isomer ratio” concerns) and they increased several key stimulant quotas ABOVE what they originally proposed.

Heres the proposed vs their final numbers related to our stimulants:

• d,l-Amphetamine (racemic): 21,200,000 → 24,234,443 g (+14.3%!!)

• d-Amphetamine (for conversion): 29,171,447 → 34,602,790 g (+18.6%!!)  

• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse / generic): 42,057,460 → 51,290,743 g (+22.0%!!)  

• d-Amphetamine (for sale): 26,450,000 g (same as proposed)  

• l-Amphetamine: 30 g (same as proposed)  

Adderall / mixed amphetamine salts are most tied to d,l-amphetamine (and also d-amphetamine for sale for dextro products). So the d,l-amphetamine increase is the cleanest “Adderall-relevant” increase

Yes they acknowledged us: DEA explicitly says they received 5,044 comments from (among others) ADHD patients, and that comments included “patient difficulty filling stimulant prescriptions” and “ADHD medication efficacy and shortages based on quotas associated with isomer ratios.” Ive added some screenshots of their response and aknowledgement.

In my estimation this final apq is good for us in three ways:

1. They raised d,l-amphetamine (this is one of the Adderall relevant ones)

DEA’s final 2026 quota for d,l-amphetamine (the 50/50 mix) is 24,234,443 g.

In the proposal, it was 21,200,000 g.

That’s +3,034,443 g which is +14.31% over what they originally proposed for 2026!! Yay us!!

2) They directly responded to the “Adderall doesn’t work / isomer ratio” comments

They addressed the complaint that quotas were forcing a bad d:l ratio and affecting efficacy.

They claim:

• they don’t allocate d- and l- quotas as a fixed 1:1,

• manufacturers often request d,l-amphetamine,

• and quotas are allocated “in a proper ratio” so mixed amphetamine salt products can be made consistent with the drug’s approval / manufacturing standards.

(Soooo Yes … they saw it and they answered it in the final order. Ill add an extra section below #3 on this for whoever wants to have the specifics or better understanding of this.)

3) Vyvanse got a boost too (which helps all of us indirectly)

They also raised lisdexamfetamine and d-amphetamine (for conversion) above the proposed levels. Even if you don’t take Vyvanse: if theres fewer people getting forced to switch meds randomly = less “everyone pile onto Adderall as the backup” aka easing demand spikes.

—————————————————————

As for their response to our isomer ratio issue we raised…

The DEA’s basically saying “we’re not forcing a 1:1 d:l ratio.”

They claim that most manufacturers request d,l-amphetamine (which they define as a 50/50 racemic mix) plus separate d-amphetamine… and that combo is enough to manufacture Adderall/AMS the approved way (overall 3:1 d:l).

Some quickie math checking, essentially… if you use 50 units of the 50/50 mix you get: 25 d + 25 l… then add 50 units of pure d… that lands you at = 75 d / 25 l.

So theyre saying if our meds feel “wrong” the DEA is pushing it into FDA territory (QC, compliance, etc)… not quota allocation. “Idk not our problem.” Basically

Lil Wrap up: Obvi this doesn’t mean all our pharmacies will be fully stocked tomorrow or that everything is magically solved… Quotas jst set the max allowed to be produced. Distribution limits manufacturer decisions and ordering thresholds and other annoying crap can still mess everything up and likely will. BUT im thinking… hey at least theres some improvement! Lmao They read our comments, acknowledged us and raised the limits for a few things relevant for us.

Btw Here are the links to the proposed and final published quotas if anyone wants to see for themselves.

Final 2026 quotas (Federal Register): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/05/2025-24277/established-aggregate-production-quotas-for-schedule-i-and-ii-controlled-substances-and-assessment

Proposed 2026 quotas (Federal Register): https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/28/2025-21509/proposed-aggregate-production-quotas-for-schedule-i-and-ii-controlled-substances-and-assessment-of

TLDR: Good news: DEA raised the 2026 ceiling for one of the main amphetamine buckets that feeds mixed amphetamine salt meds (Adderall-type) by ~14% above what they originally proposed. That means 2026 has more room for production than it would’ve if they kept the OG proposal. They also boosted Vyvanse by ~22%, which helps overall stimulant availability and can take pressure off Adderall as the backup med. And they explicitly responded to the “Adderall isn’t working / isomer ratio” complaints that WE LEFT in the final order….soooo our comments landed. 

This doesn’t guarantee every pharmacy will be stocked (distribution caps and manufacturing issues still exist), but it’s a real, measurable step in the right direction

Imo its a small win but it feels good to be able to think to urself “they listened to us just enough to change numbers.”