Amphetamine Drugs Market Trends

Growth Drivers

• Rising government spending via Medicare and Medicaid: The U.S. government spent a substantial amount of money on medications for ADHD, mainly amphetamines such as Adderall and Vyvanse, through programs such as Medicare, in 2023. This expenditure reflects the increased use of these drugs to treat ADHD, especially in the adult and elderly groups covered by federal health plans that is increasing the market. This rise impacts the rise in usage of older adults under Part D coverage. As per a report by NLM in February 2025, A total of 117,704 adults (26.6%) with ADHD received an ADHD medication prescription in the U.S. These figures focus on the growing demand for federal investment in ADHD management and expanding the scope of therapeutic access, both in the pediatric and adult populations.
• Healthcare quality improvement and early intervention: Clinicians strive to diagnose ADHD earlier in children, coupled with medication and behavioral therapy to maximize outcome optimization in the market. New tools, telehealth services, and streamlined protocols are being adopted to ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time. According to the CDC in March 2024, during 2020-2022, 11.3% of children aged 5-17 years in the U.S. had ever been diagnosed with ADHD. Early diagnosis is complemented by constant investment in R&D for better formulations, abuse deterrence, and tailored delivery methods for advanced patient care.
• Growing acceptance of mental health treatment: One of the major drivers of growth in the market is the rising global acceptance of mental health care. As stigma continues to fade around disorders such as ADHD, more and more people are getting diagnosed and initiating treatment. Moving toward early intervention, the prescription line drugs, including amphetamines, are increasingly used. Schools, offices, and healthcare systems all weigh heavily on mental wellness, as treatment is carried out steadily. Thus, continued stimulation demand for well-accepted therapeutic agents further exacerbates general market growth of the market.

Broadening of Diagnostic Criteria Driving Growth in the Amphetamine Drugs Market

Changes in Diagnostic Determination for ADHD Between DSM-IV and DSM-5 (2022)

Source: NLM, September 2022

Challenges

• Government price caps and cost containment policies: Governments often enforce high pricing caps on manufacturers to reduce spending in national healthcare. This alternatively impacts manufacturers' profitability in market. In 2023, France made strict reimbursement ceilings on stimulant drugs and reduced commercial margins for amphetamine-based therapies. Takeda addressed this by implementing a tiered price plan that matched national reimbursement levels in collaboration with French health organizations. Further, this strategy has increased access to Elvanse, successfully demonstrating that the collaborative pricing frameworks can balance the market viability and affordability effectively.
• Rising Concerns Over Misuse and Dependency: Another major hurdle encountered in the amphetamine market lies in the matter of misuse, overprescription, and addiction. Basically, the more prescriptions given for amphetamine-based treatments such as Adderall and Vyvanse, the more non-medical usage abuses come into being, mostly by adolescents and young adults. Thus, they have faced more rigid regulatory scrutiny and tighter prescription monitoring in a few countries in amphetamine drug market. In many instances, providers must adhere to strict diagnostic criteria and follow risk mitigation strategies before treatment can be initiated. These worrisome issues may diminish confidence in prescribers and also be a restraint in market development, as regulators and public health agencies push for a more cautious use of stimulant medications.