Amid intense scrutiny of its prescribing practices, the online mental health company Cerebral launched a series of advertisements Thursday emphasizing affordable and easy screening and diagnosis of ADHD and a convenient way to get care.
The promotions, which appeared on a Meta advertising library and were viewed by STAT, were rolled out shortly after Cerebral announced it would pause the practice of prescribing controlled substances like Ritalin and Adderall to treat ADHD, effective May 9. The Drug Enforcement Administration has also reportedly launched an investigation into the licensing of the company’s providers and its handling of duplicate patient accounts, according to Business Insider. Cerebral would not confirm or comment on the investigation.
The ads viewed by STAT — which started running Thursday, according to the ad library — did not mention access to prescription medications for ADHD. A company spokesperson said Cerebral is “actively adjusting its marketing strategy” since Cerebral clinicians will still be treating ADHD with non-stimulants. Armaan Gandhi, head of brand at Cerebral, told STAT that part of adjusting its ADHD practice “includes updating the language on our ads to accurately reflect this change.”
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