ADHD Medication Rant

Today's rant:

I have ADHD. In order for me to re-fill my Concerta prescription, I have to call my pharmacy and request that they fax my doctor's office. Then, the pharmacy has to actually fax my doctor's office (you would not believe how difficult this step is). Once my doctor's office gets the fax, they have to create the magic piece of paper that says I can have my medication and have a doctor sign it. There is no consistency with regards to how quickly this is accomplished. Then, they have to mail that piece of paper to my pharmacy, and we all know how the USPS is known for their speed and reliability. Oh wait! No, they're not. *rolls eyes* When/If the pharmacy receives the aforementioned magic piece of paper, they have to put 30 pills in an orange bottle which takes longer than you'd think. Then, they have to inform me that  I need to take time out of my day to drive to the pharmacy and pick up my medication. Once I do that, this ridiculously long process mercifully reaches its conclusion. 

At any point of the above-mentioned process, a snafu or a delay could occur, and the consequences of either of those are potentially dire. When those with ADHD are without their medication, they become less productive at work and/or school and are at a greater risk of committing a crime. Additionally, if sufferers of ADHD go unmedicated, they frequently self-medicate, meaning they turn to drugs and/or alcohol. Those with ADHD struggle with day-to-day tasks, such as remembering to get the ridiculously long process of getting a refill of their prescription going at a time that will allow them to not run out of pills. Therefore, if all of these laws are designed to keep society safe from those who abuse ADHD medication probably do not help as they leave medicated ADHD sufferers without medication and cause some to give up medication entirely because of the ridiculous process of getting a refill for their prescription. 

Solution #1: Once an individual is diagnosed with ADHD, their doctor calls their preferred pharmacy and gives them and only them (or their parent if the patient is a minor) permission to get refills. The doctor can revoke this permission if the patient does not show up for regular checkups. 

Solution #2: I call my doctor's office for a refill. My doctor calls Amazon, and in two business days, UPS delivers my medication to my door.