How Much Does Adderall Cost?
If you have a prescription for Adderall, and you tend to run out before your next refill, you might consider buying Adderall from someone you know or some other connection. But how much does Adderall typically cost on the street? It depends on several variables, but on average:
| Measurement | Average Price |
| Per mg IR/XR | $0.50-$1+ |
| 20 mg IR/20 mg XR | $10-$20+ |
| 30 mg XR | $15-$30+ |
Are you or a loved one misusing Adderall? If you’re concerned about the side effects of this stimulant medication, Zinnia Health has the answer. Call today to speak with a caring treatment professional at (855) 430-9439.
What Is Adderall?
Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) is a physician-prescribed stimulant medication that’s FDA-approved for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Adderall’s active ingredients are a mix of amphetamine salts. When prescribed for approved uses, such as ADHD, Adderall is thought to improve the ability to maintain focused attention and stay alert and organized.
However, Adderall and other prescription stimulants also have a high chance of misuse and abuse — especially when illicitly obtained.
What Is the Average Cost of Adderall by Prescription?
If your doctor has prescribed Adderall for your ADHD, you might have some questions about its affordability. Legally obtained, Adderall’s prices vary significantly, in part due to insurance coverage:
- Adderall cost with insurance: Most mainstream insurance companies cover Adderall treatment with patient co-pays ranging from no cost to around $40/month.
- Adderall cost without insurance: For patients without health insurance, the price of Adderall can vary widely, up to $200-$300 per month or more for a 30-day prescription. Pricing is based on brand name vs. generic, milligram dosage, and formulation (immediate-release (IR) or extended-release (XR)).
What’s the Price of Adderall on the Street?
Adderall is the brand name for an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug comprised of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine. Generic versions are available from various manufacturers, such as Elite Laboratories, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Lannett Pharmaceuticals.
Adderall is available in two forms:
- Immediate-release (IR) tablets
- Extended-release (XR) capsules.
Adderall IR is available in the following doses:
- 5 mg
- 7.5 mg
- 10 mg
- 12.5 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 30 mg
Adderall XR is available in:
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 25 mg
- 30 mg
How Much Does 15 mg of Adderall IR Cost?
15 mg of Adderall IR costs* between $5 and $15 or more.
How Much Does 20 mg of Adderall IR Cost?
Adderall IR 20 mg costs* between $10 and $20 or more.
How Much Does a 30 mg Capsule of Adderall XR Cost?
Adderall XR 30 mg can cost* between $15 and $30 or more.
Where you buy Adderall also affects its price. For instance:
- A generic Adderall XR 25 mg capsule costs $8 in Alabama.
- Brand-name Adderall XR 30 mg capsules cost $10 each in Missouri.
- In Massachusetts, brand-name Adderall XR 20 mg capsule is $20.
- In Georgia, generic Adderall IR can be as low as $1 for a 20 mg tablet.
- Brand name Adderall IR 20 mg is $6 in Oregon.
*Prices reflect research from nationwide self-reported Adderall street prices on StreetRX.com.
Do you or someone you love buy Adderall on the street? If you’re concerned for your health or that of a loved one, Zinnia Health can help. Call our addiction treatment hotline at (855) 430-9439 to learn more about our services.
What Factors Can Affect the Price of Adderall?
Factors that can affect how much Adderall costs on the street include location, purity, and availability.
Location
Street drug pricing fluctuates greatly depending on location. Buying street drugs in the city usually means lower prices, whereas buying a substance rurally often means you’ll pay a lot more.
Purity
Illicit substances, such as crystal meth, often carry a higher price tag for higher purity. If you buy prescription drugs on the illicit market, expect to pay more if it’s the brand name version vs. a generic version.
Availability
A street drug’s price fluctuates in relation to the drug’s availability. Widely available means lower prices; scarcity means paying a premium.
Given the ongoing Adderall shortage, both brand name and generic versions may cost more on the street than what has been historically typical. The shortage affects brand-name Adderall more than the generic versions, but that means you might pay more for generic because no one has brand name Adderall.
At the same time, Reddit users have widely discussed the differences between brand name Adderall and its generic versions, as well as the variations between generics. The FDA states there are no differences between brand-name and generic drugs. However, according to Redditors, brand-name Adderall is superior to generics because, in their opinion, not all generics provide the same therapeutic benefits.
Even among the better generics, therapeutic benefits are said to vary between batches. Whether these alleged variances are due to the differences in fillers from brand to brand is unknown.
As of August 2023, these manufacturers are not experiencing an Adderall shortage (meaning these brands are still rather easy to find on the streets, which could affect the price):
- Alvogen
- Elite Laboratories
- Lannett
- Sandoz
- SpecGX
- Sunrise
- Teva*
*Teva manufactures both brand-name and generic Adderall. Currently, the company continues to meet the demand for brand-name Adderall, but many of its generic doses remain in limited supply and are being allocated to existing patients.
What Does Adderall Cost in Other Countries?
According to the RAND Corporation, the United States has the highest prescription drug costs. So, an Adderall pill that costs $10 in the U.S. might have the following costs per country:
- Germany: $3.50
- Canada: $3.50
- Japan: $3.25
- United Kingdom: $3.00
- Mexico: $2.75
What Is the Trend for People Searching Online for Adderall?
In the past 12 months, searches for Adderall online have remained steady, with an average search score of around 60. The greatest number of searches for Adderall online occurred from February 5-11, 2023, with a search score of 100.
The states with the highest searches for Adderall online are:
- Louisiana
- Utah
- Alabama
- Rhode Island
- Michigan
The Health Dangers of Buying Adderall on the Street
Buying prescription medications and stimulant drugs like Adderall or Ritalin illegally from drug dealers — or even a friend with a prescription — can present potential risks to your health. As you’ll see below, one of the health risks posed by buying Adderall on the street correlates to a factor that affects Adderall’s street prices: purity.
But other dangers of taking this prescription stimulant without proper medical advice include Adderall abuse, addiction, abnormal weight loss from loss of appetite, and improper dosing.
Consider the following when weighing the health dangers of buying street Adderall:
How Pure Is It?
When someone with narcolepsy or ADHD receives an Adderall prescription from their doctor, the medication from the pharmacy is in an unadulterated form straight from the manufacturer. While Adderall on the street may be from someone’s prescription, that’s not always the case.
Drug dealers don’t put ingredient labels on what they’re selling. Sometimes, they cut or mix a substance with other substances to have more product to sell, to enhance the original drug’s effects, or both.
Do You Have a Prescription?
If a healthcare professional hasn’t diagnosed you with a condition that Adderall is approved to treat, there’s a significant chance that misusing Adderall, even occasionally, can lead to Adderall addiction or other impairments to your physical well-being and mental health.
The Legal Dangers of Buying Adderall on the Street
Buying any street drug is dangerous from a legal standpoint. When obtained through illegal means, such as street purchases, you’re exposing yourself to serious legal consequences — consequences that could extend beyond you to your immediate family.
For instance, you could be criminally charged for either possession without a prescription or possession with the intent to distribute. These charges are serious, and while exact consequences vary, possession without prescription charges can carry fines up to $5,000 and up to a year in prison.
A charge of possession with the intent to distribute depends on the amount of Adderall in your possession, but it results in much higher fines and a significantly longer prison sentence, even if you’re a first-time offender.
Any type of drug charge can also result in:
- Losing your job
- Losing any professional licenses
- Reputational damage
These circumstances can all put undue hardship on your immediate family members.
Zinnia Health Can Help You Heal for Good
ADHD is nothing to be ashamed of. Getting the help and medication you need for your mental health deserves applause. However, self-medicating with a friend’s prescription or buying Adderall on the street can result in serious health consequences, including abuse, addiction, overdose, and even death.
If you or a loved one is struggling with Adderall use or other stimulants, Zinnia Health can help. Our addiction hotline is staffed 24/7/365 with caring, knowledgeable treatment specialists ready to answer your questions. Call us at (855) 430-9439 to begin your journey and heal for good.