BRENTWOOD, Tenn., May 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In early May,
Michael Cartwright, the CEO
of American Addiction Centers (NYSE: AAC), outlined his 2030
vision for the company. At the core of the vision is a scientific
approach to take personalized medicine to a new level. Utilizing
pharmacogenetics, brain imaging, nutraceuticals and advanced
technology, Cartwright believes investing in the latest sciences
gives patients struggling with drug and alcohol addiction the best
possible outcomes.
"Addiction treatment lags behind many other areas of medicine
when it comes to research and innovation," says Cartwright. "This
is one of the main reasons why we decided to go public in order to
have access to capital to invest in revolutionizing the treatment
of this disease."
Dr. Mark Calarco, AAC's national
medical director for clinical diagnostics and the CEO
of Addiction Labs, worked alongside Cartwright in developing
the plan. He has nearly 30 years of experience in both clinical and
laboratory medicine.
Calarco explains the science behind the core elements of AAC's
2030 plan. He stresses that the strategies highlighted in the
2030 plan aim to reduce the "trial and error" approach and
cognitive bias so prevalent in medicine today.
- Focusing on Pharmacogenetics - "Pharmacogenetics testing
gives us the ability to tailor medication choices to each patient's
unique DNA, which is particularly important in a recovery setting
when there is a narrow window of time to effectively treat the
patient," says Calarco. "We get two key bits of information from
this testing - how the patient metabolizes different drugs and if
he/she has certain genetic traits that put them at risk for
addiction or a mental health condition, such as depression or
bipolar disorder. While this is still an emerging field, it is one
of many clinically valuable tools that can help us to truly offer
personalized medicine."
- Implementing Brain Scans - "PET and SPECT scans are
FDA-approved for psychiatric indications and mental
health, and have a high predictive value, yet most treatment
providers aren't utilizing the technology because it's not
mainstream or covered by most insurers," says Calarco. "These scans
can be used to monitor functional activity in the brain and match
patterns that correlate with addiction and behavioral health
disorders. They can also help identify other brain disorders like
dementia and Alzheimer's."
To better understand the potential impact of brain scans,
Calarco points to a recent study featured in HealthDay where
scientists were able to identify people with PTSD who were on the
brink of suicide based on chemical changes in the brain.
- Expanding Access to Nutraceuticals - "Nutraceuticals can
serve as an adjunct or even a primary treatment option for some
patients, offering a lower risk for side effects with better
overall compliance," says Calarco. "For example, high doses of
Omega-3 can lower inflammation, and vitamins B6, B9, and B-12 can
lower the inflammatory amino acid homocysteine. We know that high
inflammation levels can interact with our genes and immune system
and cause abnormal shifts in mood and behavior. In fact, more and
more research is supporting the benefits of nutraceuticals for
their ability to reduce inflammation and increase dopamine and
serotonin levels. One study in the American Journal of Psychiatry
found several nutraceuticals helped to reduce depressive symptoms
when taken as an adjunct with antidepressants. We are continuing to
explore all the benefits of nutraceuticals for treating those with
addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions and plan to
offer them as an additional service through AAC."
- Investing in Medical Technology - "The medications we
use to treat addiction and behavioral disorders have a 30 to 40%
failure rate, meaning people don't always respond to them," says
Calarco. "This is why our plan also includes investing in
non-invasive FDA-approved medical technologies, such as TMS
(Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and Bridge-like medical
devices. TMS uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the
brain to improve symptoms of depression, whereas the Bridge-like
device can help reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms and chronic pain.
We also plan to develop an app to make addiction resources more
accessible and convenient to our patients and the general public
from their phones, and allow us to connect in a new way to those
who need ongoing support in achieving long-term recovery."
Calarco is excited about AAC's future but doesn't expect
everyone to buy into AAC's vision at first. In fact, he says that's
a sign AAC is on the right track.
"When things are cutting edge or innovative people often have a
hard time getting on board until it's mainstream," he says. "With
tens of thousands of people dying every year from this disease, we
don't have time to wait on them. We must continue to forge ahead
and be the leader in the industry."
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.
Contact
Joy Sutton, 615-727-8407
jsutton@contactaac.com
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SOURCE American Addiction Centers