The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is investigating mental health startup Done for its prescription of controlled substances, according to a news story.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on the investigation.
According to the report, the DEA’s Diversion Control Division is leading the investigation into Done and fellow online mental health startup Cerebral about their prescription of Adderall and other controlled substances.
A spokesperson from Done said the company has not “received any notifications from the DEA, Department of Justice, or any other federal agency regarding an investigation, request for records, or preservation of documents.”
Done’s spokesperson said the company does not treat or determine diagnoses of individuals with ADHD but provides a “platform that allows individuals to connect with qualified clinicians to both diagnose and treat ADHD patients.” The company said these clinicians are not employees or contractors.
A spokesperson from Cerebral said it does not comment on pending investigations, but added that the company is fully cooperating with any probe. A spokesperson for the DEA did not comment.
Cerebral has been allegedly tied to multiple federal government investigations. In June, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission reportedly sent a letter to Cerebral requesting information on whether the company has continued to charge patients even after they’ve attempted to cancel their subscription. According to the report, the FTC asked Cerebral to preserve relevant documents.
Cerebral received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York on May concerning an investigation into “possible violations of the Controlled Substances Act” related to how it prescribed medication for ADHD. It’s unclear if this investigation ties into the one reportedly by the DEA.
In response to the grand jury subpoena in May, Cerebral said it had not been accused of violating any laws. The company announced on the same day it would no longer prescribe certain controlled substances to treat ADHD. In late May, Walmart, CVS Health and other national pharmacy chains said they were going to stop filling ADHD meds from Cerebral and Done.
