LegitScript
LegitScript certification is a third-party review of an addiction treatment provider's licensing, practices and advertising that Google and Meta require before a US provider can run addiction treatment ads.
Also called LegitScript certification, LegitScript Addiction Treatment Certification
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- 3 sources, linked
- 5 related terms
What it means
LegitScript certifies the organization, not a single web page. Its addiction treatment program checks a provider against sixteen published standards covering licensure and business registration, legal compliance, facility locations, clinical staff qualifications, prior discipline, insurance, website content and privacy, medications, advertising, incentives, affiliates and transparency. Certification carries an annual fee, and LegitScript keeps monitoring a provider after approval.
Google's healthcare policy says a US advertiser must be certified as an addiction services provider by LegitScript and must also be certified by Google. Meta's advertising standards require LegitScript certification and Meta's written permission for addiction treatment ads aimed at people in the United States. LegitScript also names Microsoft Ads and Nextdoor among the platforms that require it.
Not every recovery business qualifies. LegitScript says sober living homes and recovery residences without licensed clinical services do not meet its requirements, and it rules out lead generators, call centers and marketers that refer patients to other providers for compensation. Google adds that services which are not eligible for LegitScript certification cannot advertise addiction services in the US.
Why it matters for your website
A reviewer reads your website against the documents you upload. The address of every facility, the services you list, the photos of your buildings and your privacy policy have to agree with your license and your lease, and any offer you make, such as paying for travel, is checked against the incentive rules. A redesign is the cheapest moment to fix a mismatch, because every page is being rewritten anyway.
If certification is pending or was refused, paid search for addiction terms is off the table, so organic search, your Google Business Profile and your AI visibility carry the whole load.
Sources
The facts on this page about a law, a regulator, a clinical standard or a platform come from these sources. Each link opens the original in a new tab.
- LegitScriptAddiction Treatment Certification (opens in a new tab)
- Google Ads HelpHealthcare and medicines policy (addiction services) (opens in a new tab)
- Meta Transparency CenterAdvertising Standards: Drug and alcohol addiction treatment (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed
This entry explains a rule so you can plan a website around it. It is not legal advice: for a decision about your own program, ask a healthcare attorney.
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