Google Suspends Addiction Treatment Referral Ads Worldwide

Google has suspended advertising in the entire addiction treatment center category worldwide. On January 23, 2018, a Google spokesperson confirmed the suspension and said the company is “consulting with experts to find a better way to connect people with the treatment they need.” The spokesperson said the issue is complex because each country imposes varying degrees of regulation on addiction treatment industry advertising and referral practices.

During September 2017, Google embargoed addiction treatment search advertising in the United States after news articles reported fraudulent patient brokering and deceptive marketing practices used by some addiction treatment provider organizations and recovery residences . . .