This article was first published in the Fall 2021 issue of Critical Connections.
Supply chain issues are making drug shortage more common. Know the alternative medications and routes of administration to continue providing quality care. 

National tracking of drug shortages started in 2001, and the past decade has seen significant increases in drug shortages. The causes are likely multifactorial, ranging from lack of raw materials to manufacturing problems, regulatory barriers, and quality control difficulties in the supply chain. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed more strain on an already strained system of drug shortages due to the need for prolonged continuous sedation in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID-19 patients.

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Authors: Adrian Wong, PharmD, MPH, BCCCP
Nathan J. Smischney, MD, MSc