Top executives of a California-based online mental health company were arrested for allegedly improperly prescribing addictive stimulants such as Adderall during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action worsened the shortage of these medications for those with legitimate medical needs, officials announced Thursday.
Ruthia He, CEO of Done Global Inc., and clinical president David Brody were arrested in Los Angeles and San Rafael, California, respectively. They are accused of conspiring to provide easy access to Adderall and similar stimulants, commonly used to treat ADHD, in exchange for a monthly subscription fee, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Done Global allegedly facilitated the prescription of more than 40 million pills of Adderall and other stimulants, generating over $100 million in revenue. He and Brody have not commented publicly, and it’s unclear if they have legal representation. Done Global did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Combination of pills (Via Mia Alba/Shutterstock)
The executives allegedly directed providers at Done Global to prescribe stimulant drugs even when patients did not meet the criteria. They reportedly discouraged follow-up appointments by compensating based solely on the number of prescriptions issued and limiting intake appointments to less than 30 minutes, the Justice Department stated.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland condemned the alleged scheme, stating, “These defendants exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud taxpayers and facilitate easy access to Adderall and other stimulants without a legitimate medical purpose.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of potential disruptions in care for 30,000 to 50,000 patients nationwide who rely on such telehealth platforms for medication access.
