SEOUL – Twenty-six-year-old Lee Jung-woo — not his real name — has been living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder at least since he was diagnosed at 10 years old. For over a decade, he relied on a steady prescription of methylphenidate, the core ingredient in the most widely used ADHD medications in South Korea. But when his regular hospital unexpectedly shut down, a new challenge emerged: finding a place that still had his medicine.

“It’s like a treasure hunt,” Lee said. “I’ve called more than 20 hospitals trying to find one that prescribes the same medicine I’ve taken since childhood.”

Lee is not alone. A nationwide shortage of ADHD medications, particularly Concerta — a long-acting methylphenidate product manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen — is sending patients and families scrambling.

The shortage, ongoing since last year, has persisted alongside a rising number of people diagnosed and treated for ADHD.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 337,595 patients were prescribed methylphenidate-based ADHD drugs last year, nearly three times the number from 2019. But supply has failed to keep pace. Janssen Korea has reported supply disruptions to the government three times since April 2023.

While experts attribute the rise to clearer diagnostic criteria, increased mental health awareness and sustained care needs into adulthood for half of childhood cases, some note the shortage is being worsened by widespread misuse and misinformation.

Methylphenidate is often misunderstood as a “study aid,” falsely believed to enhance academic performance for otherwise healthy students. Its reputation as a concentration booster has fueled demand in education-driven districts such as Seoul’s Gangnam-gu, Songpa-gu and Seocho-gu, where prescription rates are among the nation’s highest.

According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, prescriptions for ADHD medications in 2021 were most concentrated in Seoul’s Gangnam-gu, with 2,004 patients receiving treatment. This was followed by Songpa-gu (1,971), Seocho-gu (1,333) and Nowon-gu (1,108) — areas all known for intense academic competition and pressure.

One doctor The Korea Herald talked with over the phone in one of these neighborhoods said the number of patients has “definitely increased.”

“It’s very noticeable. The number of students coming to get prescriptions has increased. However, it’s very hard to differentiate the ones who really need the drugs and the ones who think they do, as prescribing is based on what the patients say.”

As supply thins, patients are being prescribed alternatives like Medikinet, which shares the same active ingredient, methylphenidate. But some patients say the substitutes are not as effective.

In online forums, parents are sharing pharmacy locations with available stock and venting frustrations. A parent-led petition on the National Assembly’s electronic petition site calling for a government-led solution has garnered over 13,500 signatures as of mid-April.

“These are not just pills,” wrote the petition’s author.

Amid growing public concern, calls for stronger governmental intervention are increasing.

Some experts and lawmakers argue that ensuring stable access to essential psychiatric medication is a matter of public health that must be addressed through expanded production, import diversification and emergency stockpiles.

The surge in distribution has also raised concerns about misuse. Methylphenidate, the primary ingredient in most ADHD medications, is a controlled psychotropic substance. Improper or extended use can lead to dependency, mood instability, anxiety and even aggression.

Critics point to the loosely applied prescription standards, noting that some clinics may exaggerate symptoms or offer short-term prescriptions without comprehensive evaluation.

In response to growing concerns, the Drug Safety Ministry issued public guidance stating that “ADHD medication is not a drug to improve academic performance.”

While it acknowledged that some children may experience better grades after treatment, the ministry clarified that such outcomes are due to improved concentration and symptom relief, not cognitive enhancement. The ministry also warned of risks of dependency associated with misuse.

Despite these efforts, the government has yet to introduce effective measures to resolve the ongoing shortage.

In September last year, the ministry added methylphenidate to its list of substances subject to abuse prevention protocols and began monitoring medical institutions more closely.

However, these steps have failed to address the fundamental supply crisis. As the situation persists, patients and caregivers continue to call for more practical, long-term solutions.

Asia News Network/The Korea Herald