[water554]

Also the fear of people abusing ADHD drugs is causing massive amounts of harm. I have a legitimate issue but the drugs are highly controlled and I am viewed with suspicion. It's very very hard to get the drugs I need and I am treated like a criminal during the whole painful process. Meanwhile I could easily buy $100 of street drugs that would last me a YEAR with much less pain and suffering and hoops.

The government needs to get out of drug prohibition. It doesn't work. Let the medical community handle things. The DEA has no business setting production limits or even existing for that matter.

[agentwiggles]

I'm finding myself growing increasingly cynical on any politician's promises with regards to the "drug war" as we live through the painfully slow and stupid pullback of marijuana prohibition. How pot is still on schedule 1 over ten years after it was first legalized in Colorado and Washington is mind-boggling.

[djkivi]

It is a bit ridiculous. Come to Canada and there are as many cannabis stores as liquor stores now.

[eyelidlessness]

For what it’s worth, if you’re having trouble finding your prescription amphetamines, Vyvanse might be easier to get filled. Probably more expensive, but may be better than just going without.

[romwell]

Same regarding ADHD medication, which had a profound effect[1] on my life when I was late-diagnosed with ADHD[2] at age 34.

I did not know anything about ADHD, except being sure that I do not have it, because I can hyper-focus[3] on what I am doing. In fact, that's the only way I can get things done![4] It's very hard to switch focus away when I am in the zone, I react very badly to interruptions[5].

So, I thought, I can't have a deficit of attention - it's the opposite! What I have difficulty with is switching focus from the thing that I am doing to something else. When I finally get to do it, that is, because I have huge issues wit procrastination[6].

...it turns out that literally all of those are ADHD symptoms.

ADHD must be the worst-named condition in history[7].

If you are reading this, and find yourself relating - check out the Wiki I put together which describes ADHD with relatable memes and comics (and my own personal experience with it)[8].

This is how I found out I am ADHD: through relatable posts, comics, and memes. Sadly, after getting my math PhD - would have been much easier if I knew this years before.

It was like I was needlessly living my life on hard mode.

While medication is just a part of what made my life much better (restructuring it to be more ADHD-friendly was where most of the impact was), the medication enabled me to do it, helped me pull out of depression, and in general, takes pain out of ordinary things that are painful for me (like paying bills, doing chores, leaving the house on time, heck, doing something that I want to do, but just can't bring myself to).

And now I can't get medication because, ostensibly, of "shortage". But people on the street can get it, whereas I cannot. The pharmacy won't tell me whether they have it in stock, they will only speak to my doctor. The doctor can't be bothered to call pharmacies around to find the One Location Which Still Has It. The pharmacy (Walgreens) keeps this info secret. Another (CVS) won't accept the Rx from my prescriber because of the same, unreasonable fear.

That's for medication that I forget to take unless something reminds me to. Like, being stuck typing this comment instead of completing a task at work. Time to take my Adderall and get to work... if I had it.

Whether you think you could have ADHD or not, I plead you to read up on what I am dealing with every day[8] so that you wouldn't be part of the problem - and could help someone else like me two years back.

[1] https://romankogan.net/adhd#Medication

[2] https://romankogan.net/adhd#Diagnosis

[3] https://romankogan.net/adhd#Hyperfocus

[4] https://romankogan.net/adhd#ADHD%20Switches

[5] https://romankogan.net/adhd#Interruptions

[6] https://romankogan.net/adhd#Procrastination

[7] https://romankogan.net/adhd/#Awfully%20Described%20Human%20D...

[8] http://romankogan.net/adhd