Addiction Labs of America Developing Pharmacogenetics Test for Cannabis and CBD

BRENTWOOD, Tenn., May 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Addiction Labs of America, the laboratory division of  American Addiction Centers (NYSE: AAC), is in the early stages of developing a pharmacogenetics test for cannabis and other cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD). It's estimated a quarter of U.S. adults are taking some form of CBD, and a new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry is now touting its potential benefits for opioid use disorder.

"It's critical that we know how different people, based on their genetic makeup, process or metabolize cannabis or CBD, and that's information pharmacogenetic testing could tell us," said Dr. Mark Calarco, Addiction Labs of America CEO. "Right now, it's a guessing game of trial and error. While there are many people who benefit both medicinally and recreationally from cannabis products, we also know there is a subset of the population who can become addicted to cannabis and experience psychiatric symptoms, such as paranoia and schizophrenia-like behavior."

To learn how pharmacogenetic testing is conducted at Addiction Labs, watch AAC's YouTube video on the process.

Addiction Labs specializes in pharmacogenetics and already offers testing on more than 150 prescribed medications, mostly in the mental health arena. This information helps doctors prescribe personalized medicine for those with substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The cannabis testing would be the first time the lab has investigated the pharmacogenetics of a formerly illicit drug.

"Even with prescribed medications, we've found that 20% of the patients we test, based on their genetic report, need to either have their dosage adjusted or be on a different drug altogether," said Joe Olechowski, Addiction Labs' supervisor of genetics research and development. "That's why this type of testing is so important. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to drugs, and in many states cannabis is already on the medication list for some people. We should know how people are reacting to it before we start prescribing it."

As the cannabis market and products like CBD continue to grow in popularity, Dr. Calarco also cautions that it's unlikely CBD will be the panacea for opioid use disorder that many are hoping.

"Based on my years of experience with cannabis products, I don't believe CBD alone will be effective or potent enough to help the majority of people with opioid use disorder. It will help some, but we need more research to see the true impact. We are excited to be on the forefront of this new trend in medicine."

About American Addiction Centers
American Addiction Centers (NYSE: AAC) is a leading provider of inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment services. We treat clients who are struggling with drug addiction, alcohol addiction, and co-occurring mental/behavioral health issues. We currently operate substance abuse treatment facilities located throughout the United States. These facilities are focused on delivering effective clinical care and treatment solutions. For more information, please find us at AmericanAddictionCenters.org or follow us on Twitter @AAC_Tweet.

Forward Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “may,” “potential,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements may include information concerning AAC Holdings, Inc.’s (collectively with its subsidiaries; “AAC Holdings” or the “Company”) possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of the Company’s revenue, profitability, outlook and overall business strategy. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from the information contained in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: (i) the Company’s inability to effectively operate its facilities; (ii) the Company’s reliance on its sales and marketing program to continuously attract and enroll clients; (iii) a reduction in reimbursement rates by certain third-party payors for inpatient and outpatient services and point-of-care and definitive lab testing; (iv) the Company’s failure to successfully achieve growth through acquisitions and de novo projects; (v) risks associated with estimates of the value of accounts receivable or deterioration in collectability of accounts receivable; (vi) a failure to achieve anticipated financial results from contemplated and prior acquisitions; (vii) the possibility that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of an acquisition; (viii) the Company’s failure to achieve anticipated financial results from contemplated and prior acquisitions; (ix) a disruption in the Company’s ability to perform diagnostic laboratory services; (x) maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory authorities, licensure and permits to operate the Company’s facilities and laboratories; (xi) a disruption in the Company’s business and reputational and economic risks associated with the civil securities claims brought by shareholders or claims by various parties; (xii) inability to meet the covenants in the Company’s loan documents or lack of borrowing capacity; and (xiii) general economic conditions, as well as other risks discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this release will prove to be accurate. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements.

Contact
Joy Sutton, 615-727-8407
[email protected]

SOURCE American Addiction Centers

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED