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Google And TikTok Ban Ads From Done Global As Federal Probe Continues

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted June 28, 2024

Google and TikTok have banned Done Global from advertising on their platforms as a probe into the company’s distribution of Adderall and other stimulants continues.

This decision follows inquiries from The Wall Street Journal.

It comes nearly two years after Done lost a third-party certification to advertise online.

The Justice Department has also announced charges against five more people in connection with an alleged conspiracy at Done to unlawfully distribute controlled substances for ADHD treatment.

These charges follow the recent arrests of Done’s founder, Ruthia He, and senior doctor, David Brody.

They are charged with fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction.

He has not entered a plea, while Brody has pleaded not guilty.

The investigation into Done’s prescribing practices began in 2022 after reports surfaced that clinicians felt pressured to prescribe stimulants via the telehealth platform.

Despite losing its LegitScript certification in November 2022, Done continued to grow.

This was fueled by around $23 million in ads on Google and TikTok.

This advertising led to an increase in monthly prescriptions from 52,000 to 57,000.

A number of people are charged with or have admitted charges in connection with the distribution of ADHD drugs

This week both Google and TikTok said Done ads would be banned until the company regains its LegitScript certification.

Meta, another platform requiring LegitScript certification, said Done could continue to run ads promoting services but not prescription drugs.

Done has spent approximately $7 million on Meta since losing certification.

LegitScript has not commented on the matter.

Four clinicians who wrote prescriptions for Done patients were also recently charged.

This includes Erin Kim, a Florida nurse practitioner, who allegedly earned over $800,000 by primarily prescribing Adderall.

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The government alleges she prescribed the drug to patients without ADHD and even to deceased individuals based on auto-generated requests.

Three people have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the probe.

This includes Yina Cruz, a New Jersey nurse practitioner, who claimed to earn about $20,000 monthly by prescribing stimulants to 2,300 patients, sometimes renewing prescriptions at a rate of two per minute.

Her lawyer did not respond to requests for comment.

Done did not respond to requests for comment on the recent developments.

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