Yes, you read that right. LegitScript has officially withdrawn from attending the Treatment Center Investment & Valuation Retreat in Scottsdale, Arizona, citing “threatening or confrontational communications from certification applicants.” Seriously? This is where we are now?
In a blog post, LegitScript explained that while the majority of these threats were received through their corporate email accounts, some employees were also being personally contacted via social media. According to them, the threats were coming from multiple companies or individuals who were planning to attend the conference. The situation, they claim, has created an environment where attending the event would be too uncomfortable and potentially confrontational for their staff.
Look, we get it—LegitScript’s certification process is long and rigorous, and many treatment centers have struggled to meet their strict standards. As an agency that managed well over $200,000/month in Google Ads spend, we also felt the pain when Google required LegitScript certification for addiction treatment advertising. However, let’s be honest—this process has effectively weeded out the bad actors in the industry, particularly those involved in body brokering and deceptive lead generation.
Threatening LegitScript because you don’t like the rules? That’s not the answer. If anything, this situation highlights an even bigger issue in the addiction treatment space—the lack of diverse marketing strategies. Google Ads was once the golden ticket, but that’s no longer the case. Even treatment centers with LegitScript certification are realizing that paid ads alone aren’t enough to sustain long-term growth.
So, what’s the solution? Diversification. We’ve written countless times about how important it is to expand your marketing efforts beyond just one channel. SEO, retargeting, high-quality content, and brand development are all essential in positioning your treatment center as the best choice for potential clients.
At the end of the day, if you build a reputable brand and implement effective digital marketing strategies, you will succeed—without having to resort to intimidation tactics. Let’s do better as an industry.
