Taking advantage of a statewide shortage of ADHD medication, wellness companies are marketing so-called "smart supplements" as an alternative to prescription drugs.

Businesses are pushing untested products as a "natural" treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, while sufferers are left waiting years for NHS exams or are unable to get medication.

The tablets are available in some cases for children as young as three to use. In other cases, salespeople promote them in Facebook support groups, or young people are informed about them by ADHD "influencers" on Instagram and TikTok. Among the benefits mentioned are their power to increase mental capacity, improve memory, remove brain fog, and sharpen focus.

Medical professionals claim that the claims lack evidence and could give patients and their families false hope.

Some companies are openly using the issues around the accessibility of ADHD drugs in their advertising. In a sponsored post on TikTok, a woman says, "There is a national shortage of ADHD medication, but I'm extremely grateful I have these." She holds out three bottles of medication. She says she can focus better since taking the medications. "These are going to be your best friend if you're struggling like I am."

The head of a company that mocks people on waiting lines and charges £48 a bag for "ADHD and brain fog" pills made fun of them in another post. "I made an ADHD supplement to help my daughter, but you could also benefit from it if you're waiting for an evaluation," said the mom. Customers were invited to use the discount code "not fair" at the cashier to receive 10% off.

Certain commercials appear to take advantage of consumers' worries about the side effects of ADHD medications to promote their products. For the purpose of marketing its supplements as a "credible alternative" to prescription drugs, one company purchased Google ads. An advertisement on TikTok stated, "I tried [this product] because I have bad side effects from ADHD medication."

Another company targets parents of children with "attention deficits and neurodiversity" between the ages of three and seventeen in an effort to give their kids "an educational boost." Its website states that using its supplements aids in "keeping the cogs turning." "It's like turning on a light!" it adds.

Concerns over the sales tactics have been voiced by organizations that assist ADHD and health professionals, who describe the targeting of patients as "irresponsible" and "exploitative."

Henry Shelford, CEO of the organization ADHD UK, said, "We are very concerned that organisations are taking advantage of people in the medication crisis." The need for support for individuals with ADHD is critical. These people are abusing the fact that they are not meeting their needs. It reminds me of the alluring but unfulfillable promises made by old West drug salespeople.

NHS England's national mental health director, Claire Murdoch, called for action. She acknowledged that the NHS was under pressure and that the "current shortages of medicines" were concerning, but she advised people not to buy supplements that were advertised as ADHD therapies and encouraged authorities to investigate any unproven claims. The speaker said, "To target families and children in this manner is totally reckless."

Typically, non-essential amino acids like l-tyrosine are included in "smart supplements" that are being sold as an ADHD treatment, along with a blend of vitamins, minerals, and herbal ingredients like ginkgo biloba, which some believe may enhance cognitive function.

However, the British Dietetic Association asserts that little evidence exists to support the notion that the drugs support normal cognitive function, much less support the use of the drugs to treat a particular clinical population, such as individuals with ADHD.

Stephanie Sloan, an NHS dietitian and chair of the association's mental health specialist group, said: "There is just not enough evidence to support their use within a clinical population, such as for ADHD for symptom management."

Sloan cautioned that while the body would gradually expel most of the compounds, others, like iron and choline, might be dangerous in high doses, and the sale of the products could give patients and their families false hope. Certain ingredients found in supplements may also interfere with prescribed drugs, such as blood thinners."It will, at most, be a financial waste and deter people from seeking out evidence-based care. At worst, though, she continued, it might have unfavorable effects. She went on to suggest that people with ADHD may be more impulsive and risk-takers, which makes them particularly "high risk."

Anita Thapar, a professor at Cardiff University of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said: "Unfortunately, none of these supplements has a strong enough evidence basis to be classified as a treatment at this time. The lack of stricter rules is regrettable since it suggests that the way things are now can be misused.

She continued by saying that although everyone should eat a good, balanced diet, there was no conclusive data to back up the use of supplements to treat ADHD, nor was there any suggestion that dietary deficiencies were the underlying cause of the disorder. It's easy to think there's nothing to lose and that taking supplements won't harm you. It's ultimately a personal choice. Remember, though, that it is still a chemical and that you might not be aware of long-term effects.