Utah Faces Mounting Pressure as Drug Shortages Hit Pharmacies Hard

Utah has a big drug shortage, which is putting a lot of stress on the shelves of its pharmacies. A new study says that Utah has the fourth most drug shortages in the country.

Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are in short supply because they are so popular across the country. This makes it harder to make the drugs. A list of controlled drugs, mostly ADHD medicines, that are causing big problems is also available.

Erin Fox, Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer at U of U Health, said, “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s main job is to make sure that there isn’t too much on the market and that these important prescription drugs aren’t being taken illegally or diverted.”

Fox said that the DEA puts limits on these medicines through rules. This makes it harder to meet the desire for the drugs. Patients should also try other pharmacies in the area if they can’t find the one they need; “it’s not necessarily that Pharmacy’s fault,” Fox said. “Be kind to them.”

She also said that if you need to, you should work with your healthcare providers to look into other treatment choices. “The main reason for these shortages is that the national manufacturer isn’t sending enough.”