Dear Constituent,

Recently, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing entitled “Oversight of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” where we heard from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.  

CLICK HERE or above to view Congressman Mfume’s remarks.

During this hearing, I raised my concerns regarding the overprescription of medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as the resulting supply shortages of these drugs. 

Studies have shown that we may be overmedicating some of our youngest children for ADHD. Upon deeper analysis, we have found that children from lower-income families between the ages of two and three years old may be disproportionately prescribed stimulants like Ritalin or Adderall for ADHD. I am troubled by the possibility that this trend is a result of medication being a quick fix to deal with kids’ hyperactivity in schools. 

Equally alarming, is the fact that while prescriptions for these medications have spiked, supply has not kept pace. In turn, children and adults who experience difficulty focusing that warrants medication ultimately hit roadblocks trying to receive the proper treatment they need. 

I also relayed in this hearing that I have heard from constituents in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District regarding instances where cancer patients are forced to delay treatment because their required medication is out of stock. 

In response to my question line, Dr. Califf concurred with my unease regarding these trends. He also emphasized it is critical that the drug manufacturing industry proactively work with the FDA when shortages are anticipated. 

Some ongoing shortages, including shortages of cancer drugs, are partially due to generic medications being less profitable for manufacturers than brand names. Therefore, manufacturers are often unwilling to manufacture more generic drugs, even if demand is on the rise. In fact, approximately 83% of drugs currently in shortage are generic. 

The FDA serves as an important regulator. This agency helps guide us, listens to us, and suggests ways for the Congress to help support their mission of protecting public health. It is critical we work to ensure they are well-equipped to regulate and assess potential supply chain disruptions now and going forward. 

Sincerely,

Kweisi Mfume
Member of Congress