National Drug Shortages:
January 2001 to September 2025
SUMMARY
- The number of active drug shortages is 214. This is the lowest number of shortages since early 2018 and is down from an all-time high of 323 in the first quarter of 2024.
- Despite the lower total number, shortages of commonly used medications such as lorazepam injection and triamcinolone injection continue to affect large numbers of patients and clinicians. Patients with chronic pain may struggle to fill prescriptions for oral opioids due to ongoing shortages.
- Long-standing shortages are beginning to resolve. Almost three-quarters of all active shortages (72%) started in 2022 or later.
- The workload required to manage shortages, including work to change pharmacy automation and electronic health records, adds to the challenges of pharmacy staff shortages.
Selected Links of Interest
- National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Improving Resiliency in the US Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Through Make-Buy-Invest Strategic Actions: A Workshop
- Brookings: China’s role in US Drug Supply Chains
- Government Accountability Office: Report on Drug Shortages (April 2025)
- Brookings: Federal Policies to Address Persistent Generic Drug Shortages
- ASHP: Drug Shortage Survey Report - Fluids
- ASHP Policy Solutions to Address the Drug Shortage Crisis
- Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee (hearing)
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (hearing and report)
- Health Affairs: Building Resilience Into US Prescription Drug Supply Chains
- ASHP: Improving the Quality and Resilience of the United States Healthcare Supply Chain
For More Information
All data provided by the University of Utah Drug Information Service. ASHP and the University of Utah maintain a drug shortage database that tracks drug availability across the nation.
For more information, visit ashp.org/drug-shortages or contact:
Erin R. Fox, PharmD, MHA, BCPS
Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer - Shared Services
University of Utah Drug Information Service
linkedin.com/in/erin-r-fox-utah
@foxerinr.bsky.social
Michael Ganio, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Senior Director, Pharmacy Practice and Quality
ASHP
linkedin.com/in/michaelganio
Please contact Dr. Fox for permission to reprint data.
