Danielle Elliott

It actually happened because of the pandemic. Remember when I said diagnosis got easier? Early in the pandemic, states eased strict regulations around how doctors can diagnose and prescribe stimulant medications. For the first time, doctors could prescribe via telehealth.

It actually happened because of the pandemic. Remember when I said diagnosis got easier? Early in the pandemic, states eased strict regulations around how doctors can diagnose and prescribe stimulant medications. For the first time, doctors could prescribe via telehealth.

With the hassle removed, the roadblock eased, thousands of women who might have previously been deterred by the steps were now able to handle the process before they had a chance to get distracted. This policy shift definitely contributed to the rise in diagnosis. It also sparked questions around over-diagnosis. I told you I'd come back to this.

With the hassle removed, the roadblock eased, thousands of women who might have previously been deterred by the steps were now able to handle the process before they had a chance to get distracted. This policy shift definitely contributed to the rise in diagnosis. It also sparked questions around over-diagnosis. I told you I'd come back to this.

Once these strict telehealth policies changed, people took advantage. Not individuals, as far as I know, but entrepreneurs. People created ADHD companies and started advertising services on social media. Companies like the ones that sent ads to me and Parker. The algorithm sent these ads to millions of women who, like Parker, took the assessments.

Once these strict telehealth policies changed, people took advantage. Not individuals, as far as I know, but entrepreneurs. People created ADHD companies and started advertising services on social media. Companies like the ones that sent ads to me and Parker. The algorithm sent these ads to millions of women who, like Parker, took the assessments.

The companies contracted psychiatrists and hired them. It looked like an ad hoc improvement in the healthcare system. And it was, mostly. Then, in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice received complaints about one of these new companies, a company called Cerebral. The complaints claimed Cerebral was pressuring clinicians to prescribe Adderall and Ritalin to increase patient retention.

The companies contracted psychiatrists and hired them. It looked like an ad hoc improvement in the healthcare system. And it was, mostly. Then, in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice received complaints about one of these new companies, a company called Cerebral. The complaints claimed Cerebral was pressuring clinicians to prescribe Adderall and Ritalin to increase patient retention.

The investigation was settled in 2024, with Cerebral agreeing to pay millions of dollars for, quote, engaging in practices that encouraged the unauthorized distribution of controlled substances from 2019 to 2022. As of June 2024, the telemedicine company Dunn is also under investigation.

The investigation was settled in 2024, with Cerebral agreeing to pay millions of dollars for, quote, engaging in practices that encouraged the unauthorized distribution of controlled substances from 2019 to 2022. As of June 2024, the telemedicine company Dunn is also under investigation.

The founder and CEO and the clinical president were arrested on allegations that they instructed Dunn prescribers to prescribe Adderall and other stimulants even if the Dunn member didn't qualify. The Justice Department alleges that the executives prioritized profits over customer health, leading to addiction, abuse, and overdoses.

The founder and CEO and the clinical president were arrested on allegations that they instructed Dunn prescribers to prescribe Adderall and other stimulants even if the Dunn member didn't qualify. The Justice Department alleges that the executives prioritized profits over customer health, leading to addiction, abuse, and overdoses.

There's no way to know how many people were misdiagnosed through these telehealth companies or to determine the accuracy rate of diagnosis during the pandemic. I get that. But I believe the women seeking a diagnosis were genuinely seeking help. All these conversations that sprung up online about ADHD during the pandemic, they helped normalize such conversations in the real world as well.

There's no way to know how many people were misdiagnosed through these telehealth companies or to determine the accuracy rate of diagnosis during the pandemic. I get that. But I believe the women seeking a diagnosis were genuinely seeking help. All these conversations that sprung up online about ADHD during the pandemic, they helped normalize such conversations in the real world as well.

Not only were more women talking to their doctors and therapists about ADHD, they were also discussing it openly with each other, their communities, and their families.

Not only were more women talking to their doctors and therapists about ADHD, they were also discussing it openly with each other, their communities, and their families.

Parker is a podcast host herself. Inevitably, she turned the interview on me. Yeah. So I've talked to my mom about it. I was trying to not tell anyone. And of course, I shared because I just overshare everything.

Parker is a podcast host herself. Inevitably, she turned the interview on me. Yeah. So I've talked to my mom about it. I was trying to not tell anyone. And of course, I shared because I just overshare everything.

No matter how much I'm like, I'm not going to tell. I'm on the phone and then I'm telling. And I talked to my mom and she's like, that can't be possible. You did so well in school. That's the same thing. And she was like, maybe you have it. But my generation didn't have this.

No matter how much I'm like, I'm not going to tell. I'm on the phone and then I'm telling. And I talked to my mom and she's like, that can't be possible. You did so well in school. That's the same thing. And she was like, maybe you have it. But my generation didn't have this.