What is the Street Value of Adderall?
In October of 2022, the FDA confirmed a nationwide shortage of the popular prescription medication Adderall. A surge in demand for ADHD medication during the pandemic lockdown sparked a domino effect on supply problems. Adderall is also a controlled substance, which means there are legal limits on how much of the drug can be produced at any given time frame. Because of the supply shortage, many who depend on the medication were forced to turn to illegal means of obtaining the controlled substances. This caused the already popular drug to shoot up in street value on the black market.
Adderall is a prescription stimulant (amphetamine dextroamphetamine) prescribed to treat symptoms of attention-deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and some sleep-related disorders. The active ingredients are a mix of various amphetamine salts. On average, Americans spend more on prescription drugs compared to any other country in the world. Research found that as many as 66% of American adults use prescription drugs.
This popularity is part of the reason why it has become so widely abused. Adderall produces increased energy, increased focus and the ability to stay awake. When used over a long period of time, Adderall can easily become addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2021 more than 14 million Americans misused prescription medications including drugs obtained through legal and illicit channels. Those who have developed a dependence and addiction to the prescription stimulant often turn to illegal means of obtaining the drug because they seek to use more than the recommended amount.
Adderall Misuse
Adderall is a prescription stimulant medication prescribed to treat symptoms of ADHD. ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the inability to pay attention, control impulsive behaviors, and be overly active. It is a common disorder first diagnosed during childhood. Adderall is used to help those with ADHD refocus and control impulsive thoughts and behaviors.
Adderall is often abused for its stimulant effects. It allows users to stay awake and focused for long periods of time along with feelings of mild euphoria. It is a popular drug among students and young adults. In times of stress, students take Adderall in order to enhance performance during long exams and study periods. Young athletes take the drug to increase their energy and performance. And young professional also take the drug to enhance their work performance.
Misuse starts with regular prescription medication use and as dependence develops, users turn to using more and more often. This also leads to purchasing illegal pills because their prescribed dosage is no longer enough to sustain their tolerance and addiction.
What is the street value of Adderall?
For those who use Adderall for the treatment of ADHD, the drug can be covered under insurance. The average cost of Adderall with insurance can range anywhere from $40-72 per month. Without insurance, the average per-month supply of Adderall ranges from $200-400. Once users have begun misusing the stimulant, they often turn to alternative and unregulated marketplaces to obtain more drugs.
Among street drugs, Adderall is a popular substance. It is most commonly sought after by young people and has a large presence on the black market and dark web. Adderall prices are generally much cheaper than other illicit substances like cocaine. The street value of Adderall can cost as little as $0.33 and as much as $35 per pill.
The average street value of Adderall:
- 5 mg – $2.50 to $15 per pill
- 10 mg – $3 to $10 per pill
- 20 mg – $5 to $20 per pill
- 30 mg – $5 to $35 per pill
A comparison to other stimulant amphetamine drugs
- Ritalin street value – $1 per pill
- Vyvanse street value – $3 to $30 per pill
In areas like the East Coast, Adderall can cost about $1 per milligram. In states like Michigan, Utah and Tennessee, a 20-milligram pill can cost between $4-6. Adderall is regularly sold illegally. With that, users often risk buying counterfeit drugs or drugs laced with other harmful substances. The street pricing of Adderall is determined by many contributing factors.
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Factors affecting the price of Adderall
- Quantity – Off-market dealers often give discounts to larger amounts purchased. Pills can be sold in single doses, bottles, drug packages or per gram or milligram.
- Brand name vs generic – Brand name Adderall costs more compared to the generic version of the stimulant amphetamine.
- Counterfeit vs real – Some vendors sell fake substances. The fake ones are normally cheaper but consequently lead to unknown side effects that can be dangerous.
- Local laws – Drug laws vary from state to state. Some places have harsher penalties for selling and buying drugs illicitly. In some places, you can be criminally charged with possession or with intent to distribute illegal Adderall. In other places, fines of up to $5000 and up to a year in prison are consequences of buying or selling illegal substances.
- Demand – The demand for a specific drug can vary from place to place. A lower demand for the drug will make it more difficult to find and therefore sell at a higher price point. If the drug is more widely available, the prices are likely to be much lower due to high competition.
- Dosage – The higher the dose, the more it will cost.
- Formulation – Immediate-release and extended-release formulas of Adderall have different pricing.
Why are people turning to illicit means of obtaining Adderall?
One reason people turned to alternative methods of obtaining Adderall was due to the prescription medication shortage in 2022. This also led to an increase in selling and buying fake Adderall on the black market. Another reason why it is being purchased on the black market is due to cost and affordability. Even when people are using the drug for legitimate reasons such as treating their ADHD or sleep disorders, pricing can become a significant obstacle. Some people don’t have insurance, some people’s insurance won’t cover the medication or for other reasons, the prices have increased.
Addiction and abuse are some of the main reasons why users turn to the black market to obtain Adderall. When an addiction has developed, users require more drugs in order to achieve the same desired effects. They develop drug cravings and destructive drug use behaviors that push them to use more than they are prescribed.
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We specialize in treating addiction and other co-occurring disorders, such as PTSD. Our Admissions specialists are available to walk you through the best options for treating your addiction.
Treatment of Adderall Addiction
Teva Pharmaceuticals is the nation’s largest supplier of the brand-name drug Adderall. As of August 2023, there is no longer a shortage of prescription drugs and manufacturers have a steady supply of Adderall. However, during that short period of drug supply disruption, many users found themselves developing an unhealthy relationship with the drug and even developing an addiction. Hotel California by the Sea provides treatment for substance use disorders such as stimulant amphetamine addiction.
We specialize in a holistic approach to treatment. We offer detox, residential and outpatient programs such as PHP and IOP. Each client will be given an individualized treatment plan catering to his or her needs in treatment and recovery. We also provide evidence-based treatments such as DBT, EMDR therapy and CBT. These cognitive group and individual therapies help clients manage the emotions that are associated with their addiction as well as other co-occurring mental health conditions.
Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to providing the tools and support for all of our clients as they work toward healing and recovery.
References:
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/adderall-shortage-pharmacies-still-unable-stock-enough-drug-patients-rcna80260
https://www.addictionresource.net/cost-of-drugs/prescription/
https://www.addictionresource.net/cost-of-drugs/prescription/adderall/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7476499/
https://recovered.org/prescription-drugs/street-cost-of-prescription-drugs
https://zinniahealth.com/substance-use/adderall/costs
https://recovered.org/stimulants/adderall-amphetamine-dextroamphetamine/cost-of-adderall