In the last five years, Done Global Inc., commonly known as Done, has become a central player in the controversy surrounding online mental health prescriptions. The Justice Department actually filed its first-ever criminal charges related to a digital health company, accusing Done executives of unlawful prescription practices, a landmark case that has affected tens of thousands of patients.
Before exploring the controversy surrounding Done and its alleged unlawful prescribing, we want to provide a few alternatives for anyone seeking online psychiatric care or mental health services. Talkiatry is the Best for ADHD Medication in our guide to the best options for ADHD treatment online. It’s also Best Overall in our guide to the best online psychiatry platforms, and other solid options for ADHD and medication include Brightside Health and Klarity Health.
Controversy: Unlawful Prescribing
In June 2024, the Justice Department officially charged Ruthia He, Done’s founder and CEO; David Brody, Clinical President; and several others. The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in unlawful prescribing practices via telemedicine, committed healthcare fraud, and obstructed justice.
Prosecutors claim that He and Brody exploited telehealth regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic to unlawfully prescribe over 40 million Adderall pills, bill insurance companies for the medication, and generate more than $100 million in revenue. The filing also alleges deceptive advertising and minimal clinical oversight.
Charging documents state that Done was aware that some patients had overdosed while using medication prescribed through the platform, and that He and Brody allegedly destroyed and concealed potentially incriminating records. Ultimately, they were both taken into custody. If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
He, Brody, and another unnamed Done employee have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Four other employees pleaded guilty and are cooperating with the federal investigation.
Learn more:
- The Verge: “The DEA is investigating Done over ADHD drug prescriptions”
- The Wall Street Journal: “Harlan Band’s Descent Started With an Easy Online Adderall Prescription”
- Bloomberg: “Under Scrutiny, Some Telehealth Firms Are Rethinking ADHD Drugs”
Suspicious Operations Shift
Even before legal proceedings, Done started shifting certain key operations to China, and by late 2022, its staff in China had assumed control over recruiting, advertising, engineering, legal affairs, and clinical policies. Communication within the company also transitioned from platforms like Slack to WeChat, effectively sidelining U.S.-based employees. This restructuring allowed Done to continue serving approximately 67,000 patients in the U.S., even after the departure of most of its U.S. staff.
Reports suggest the team used aggressive strategies to maintain and grow the patient base, including targeting U.S. college campuses and utilizing text message campaigns to re-engage former patients. According to government filings, they also introduced protocols that pressured clinicians to prescribe medications rapidly, sometimes approving refills in under a minute, and penalized those who did not meet certain performance metrics.
Ruthia He, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Los Angeles in June 2024 and initially placed under house arrest. However, she was later returned to jail after authorities discovered concealed travel documents, violating the terms of her release. Prosecutors also allege that He discussed plans to flee to Hong Kong and had transferred substantial funds to a company named MakeBelieve Asia.
Learn More:
- The Wall Street Journal: “A U.S. Crackdown Targeted an Adderall ‘Pill Mill.’ Secretly, It Had Already Moved to China”
- The Wall Street Journal: “Founder of Alleged Adderall ‘Pill Mill’ Sent Back to Jail”
Done’s Response to the Controversy
In response to the charges, Done Global issued a statement that said it “disagrees with the criminal charges filed…,” and He and Brody are presumed innocent.
“Done Global disagrees with the criminal charges filed last week against its founder, Ruthia He, and Dr. David Brody, which are based on events that principally occurred between February 2020 and January 2023. Both are presumed innocent. Since its founding, Done Global has worked to make mental health care accessible for tens of thousands of Americans trapped in a spiraling national crisis. Done Global will continue to operate – and do everything in our power to ensure that the more than tens of thousands Americans that rely on us do not lose access to their mental health care. At the same time, we will continue to support our clinicians as they exercise independent clinical judgment, practice evidence-based medicine, and provide best-in-class health care.”
The company emphasized its commitment to providing accessible mental health care and stated that it would continue operations; however, it has faced operational issues. For instance, major pharmacy chains, including Walmart and CVS, stopped filling prescriptions from Done.
As of June 2025, Done Global remains operational, serving nearly 70,000 patients (in-person and online) with its Chinese-based team overseeing the majority of its functions. Members pay a monthly fee ($79) for access to prescribing medical professionals, with a one-time fee of $299 to start. The company continues to face legal scrutiny and public criticism over its practices.
Learn More:
- Done: “Statement from Done Global”
Is This an Industry-Wide Problem?
Yes, this is an industry-wide problem. After the pandemic started, there was a spike in patients seeking online mental healthcare service. According to the WHO, there was a 25% increase in adult anxiety and depression worldwide between 2020 and 2022. When the DEA relaxed its rules regarding the prescription of controlled substances online, this had positive implications for people who needed those drugs, particularly people in regions that faced severe shortages; however, properly diagnosing and treating psychiatric illness is complicated and that power should not be taken lightly. As such, it also sparked concern that online platforms made it too easy to get potentially addictive medications.
Note: Both Adderall (schedule II) and buprenorphine (schedule III) are listed as controlled substances by the DEA. This is based on their potential for abuse.
Done’s charges also coincided with an ongoing shortage of several stimulant medications commonly prescribed to treat symptoms of ADHD. Some sources speculate that this shortage is due, in part, to overprescription. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) came out after the charges were filed to issue a warning about potential disruptions in access to ADHD medications, estimating that up to 50,000 patients could be affected.
Learn more:
- WHO: “COVID-19 pandemic triggers 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide”
- NPR: “Many people with ADHD can’t get their medication amid Adderall shortage”
Is This Issue Resolved?
This case is still being investigated by HSI, the DEA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigation. If convicted, He and Brody each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances counts.
While there is a legitimate need for ADHD treatment online, and that may include the prescription of medications like Adderall and other stimulants, these drugs involve a certain level of risk. Psychiatric providers need to be conscientious and their use, and supported in their responsibility to properly screen patients and consider potential alternatives.
We’re happy to report that in this ever-evolving space, there are many reliable platforms for ADHD treatment. Once again, Talkiatry scores high in our independent review and lands a top spot in our guide to ADHD treatment online. Its 300+ psychiatrists are able to prescribe controlled substances as needed, although it exclusively accepts in-network patients. Other options that accept insurance or cash-pay include Brightside Health and Klarity Health. While Brightside does not prescribe controlled substances at all, Klarity may be able to when clinically necessary. Ultimately, this depends on state regulations, and in some cases, could require an in-person visit.
Learn More:
- ADDitude: “The Tattered Promise of ADHD Telehealth”
History of Done
Founded in 2019 by former Facebook product designer Ruthia He, the California-based platform was launched to provide telehealth services for people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), charging a monthly fee in exchange for diagnosis and ongoing medication refills.
The platform started gaining popularity in 2020, thanks (in part) to strategic advertisements on platforms like TikTok and Facebook. Around the same time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relaxed some of its rules requiring in-person consultations for prescribing controlled substances. This regulatory shift allowed Done and other online platforms to more easily prescribe ADHD medications, including stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanes.
By 2022, federal authorities, led by the DEA, began investigating Done for its prescribing practices. The company faced allegations that its clinicians were pressured to diagnose ADHD and prescribe stimulants. Simultaneously, Done was expanding. It opened 30 physical clinics across the US, including in California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Colorado as part of a shift to a more hybrid model of care, combining virtual services with in-person consultations.