{{short description|American healthcare facilities and services company}} {{UPE|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox company | name = American Addiction Centers Inc. | logo = | logo_size = | type = [[Private company|Private]] | industry = [[Healthcare]] | founded = 2004 | founders = | location = [[Brentwood, Tennessee|Brentwood, Tennessee, U.S.]] | area_served = United States | key_people = {{plainlist| * Andrew McWilliams ([[CEO]])<ref>{{cite news |title=AAC Holdings Announces Appointment of Andrew McWilliams to CEO as Michael Cartwright Focuses on Role as Chairman of the Board |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/01/16/1971183/0/en/AAC-Holdings-Announces-Appointment-of-Andrew-McWilliams-to-CEO-as-Michael-Cartwright-Focuses-on-Role-as-Chairman-of-the-Board.html |access-date=27 February 2021 |date=15 January 2020}}</ref> * Dr. Lawrence Weinstein ([[Chief Medical Officer|CMO]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lombaerde |first1=Geert De |title=AAC hires Humana veteran to be CMO |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/area-stocks/article/21016467/aac-hires-humana-veteran-to-be-cmo}}</ref> }} | num_employees = | parent = | homepage = }}

'''American Addiction Centers''' ('''AAC''') is a Brentwood, Tennessee–based, publicly traded for-profit addiction treatment chain.<ref name=":1" />

The company delivers [[addiction treatment]] services in residential and [[outpatient]] facilities, as well as provides drug testing and diagnostic laboratory services. Andrew McWilliams is the current CEO of AAC and Mark Calarco is the CEO of its laboratory division.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AAC hires Humana veteran to be CMO|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/area-stocks/article/21016467/aac-hires-humana-veteran-to-be-cmo|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Nashville Post|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AAC names CEO of labs division|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/area-stocks/article/21065245/aac-names-ceo-of-labs-division|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Nashville Post|language=en}}</ref>

== History == American Addiction Centers was co-founded in 2004 by [[Michael Cartwright (businessman)|Michael Cartwright]] (then CEO).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bloomberg - American Addiction Centers Inc|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/FTER:US|access-date=2019-09-13|website=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]}}</ref> In October 2014, the company went from [[Privately held company|privately held]] to [[Public company|public]], becoming the first publicly traded addiction treatment provider in the U.S.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In December 2014, American Addiction Centers made its first acquisition as a public company, taking over Recovery First Inc., a Florida-based [[substance use disorder]] and rehab services company.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=AAC Holdings buys Florida substance abuse provider|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/home/article/20480633/aac-holdings-buys-florida-substance-abuse-provider|access-date=2019-09-13|website=[[Nashville Post]]|language=en}}</ref> By 2015, American Addiction Centers ran 8 facilities in 6 states after acquiring several sites in [[California]], [[New Jersey]], [[Rhode Island]] and [[Mississippi]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2015-02-05|title=American Addiction Centers Goes Public|url=https://mcn.com/2015/02/04/american-addiction-centers-goes-public/|access-date=2019-09-13|website=Mitchell MCN|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/home/article/20483455/aac-buys-in-mississippi|title=AAC buys in Mississippi|website=[[Nashville Post]]|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> Among the company's acquisitions in 2015 were also two [[digital marketing]] firms focused on publishing [[Web content|online content]] on substance use disorders – Referral Solutions Group and Taj Media;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/health-care/article/20484450/aac-acquires-online-publisher-marketing-company-for-60m|title=AAC acquires online publisher, marketing company for $60M|last=Kubis|first=Emily|website=[[Nashville Post]]|language=en|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.psychcongress.com/news-item/american-addiction-centers-buys-two-digital-marketing-firms|title=American Addiction Centers buys two digital marketing firms {{!}} Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network|last=Miller|first=Julie|date=July 6, 2015|website=Psych Congress|access-date=2019-09-13}}</ref> and Aliso Viejo–based Laguna Treatment Hospital's building for $13.5 million.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rehab Hospital Opens in Aliso Viejo|url=https://www.ocbj.com/news/2016/jun/17/rehab-hospital-opens-aliso-viejo/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.ocbj.com|date=17 June 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2015, the company launched a Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship Program, providing [[scholarship]] funds to [[college]] students pursuing careers in addiction-related fields.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AAC Announces Partnership with NFL Alumni to Offer Scholarships|url=https://www.psychcongress.com/article/aac-announces-partnership-nfl-alumni-offer-scholarships|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shulman|first=Robyn|date=2016-04-03|title=Scholarship Program $10,000-American Addiction Centers Announces 2016 Behavioral Health Academic|url=http://www.ednewsdaily.com/american-addiction-centers-announces-2016-behavioral-health-academic-scholarship-program-10000/|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2017, AAC acquired AdCare, a New England–based provider of addiction treatment, for $85 million.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-19|title=AdCare Sold To Tennessee-Based Addiction Treatment Company|url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/adcare-sold-tennessee-based-addiction-treatment-company|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Worcester, MA Patch|language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, AAC received three warnings from the [[New York Stock Exchange]], risking being delisted. The third warning was issued after AAC stock traded below $1 for at least 30 trading days.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/area-stocks/article/21077498/aac-receives-third-warning-from-nasdaq|title=AAC receives third warning from NASDAQ|work=Nashville Post|first=Matt|last=Blois|date=10 July 2019|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], AAC provided [[COVID-19 testing|coronavirus testing]] for its patients and the local Tennessee community through its in-house lab to prevent infections.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-22|title=Addiction Labs Offers COVID-19 Testing to the Community and On-site at Middle Tennessee Businesses and Organizations|url=https://www.nashvillemedicalnews.com/addiction-labs-offers-covid-19-testing-to-the-community-and-on-site-at-middle-tennessee-businesses-and-organizations-cms-3966|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Nashville Medical News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=American Addiction Centers Launches Onsite COVID-19 Testing|url=https://www.emsworld.com/press-release/1224279/american-addiction-centers-launches-onsite-covid-19-testing|access-date=2021-02-27|website=EMS World|language=en}}</ref> It also launched telehealth services on its mobile application and monitored the vitals of an in-house patient through their EarlySense technology and [[toxicology testing]] as a part of their ongoing treatment program. In late 2020, the company underwent a financial restructuring.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bryant|first=Bailey|date=2020-02-20|title=After Years of Playing Defense, AAC Preps 2020 Offensive Strategy|url=https://bhbusiness.com/2020/02/20/after-years-of-playing-defense-aac-preps-2020-offensive-strategy/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Behavioral Health Business|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bryant|first=Bailey|date=2020-09-11|title=AAC Pivots Marketing Strategy, Gets Personal Amid Pandemic|url=https://bhbusiness.com/2020/09/11/aac-pivots-marketing-strategy-gets-personal-amid-pandemic/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Behavioral Health Business|language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2020, it sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Patrick |date=June 20, 2020 |title=American Addiction Centers Files for Bankruptcy |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-addiction-centers-files-for-bankruptcy-11592696144 |access-date=December 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230818061733/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/american-addiction-centers-files-for-bankruptcy-11592696144 |archive-date=August 18, 2023}}</ref>

== Locations == By 2018, American Addiction Centers was operating 12 residential treatment centers and 18 outpatient facilities, and reported a [[revenue]] of almost $296 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Silver|first=Jeff|date=2018-03-15|title=Kirk Manz's Mission to End Drug Abuse at American Addiction Centers|url=https://americanhealthcareleader.com/2018/fighting-silent-killer/|access-date=2019-09-13|website=American Healthcare Leader|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Elflein|first=John|date=Jul 10, 2019|title=American Addiction Centers' annual revenue from 2011 to 2018 (in 1,000 U.S. dollars)|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/613333/annual-revenue-american-addiction-centers/|access-date=2019-09-13|website=[[Statista]]}}</ref>

As of December 2020, AAC operates 26 locations in eight states of the U.S.

In June 2023, Sunrise House was closed.

== Research == American Addiction Centers conducts studies and research through its subsidiaries. In 2018, the center conducted patient outcome studies with Centerstone Research Institute.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=TN|last2=States 877-467-3123|first2=37228 United|title=American Addiction Centers' Patient Outcome Findings|url=https://centerstone.org/news-events/news/american-addiction-centers-patient-outcome-findings/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Centerstone|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, they conducted a study on people's alcohol consumption pattern during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a research on [[substance use disorder]] likelihood in the [[LGBT community|LGBTQ+ community]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=American Addiction Centers' new ad campaign highlights ongoing prevalence of overdose deaths|url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/digital-marketing/american-addiction-centers-new-ad-campaign-highlights-ongoing-prevalence-of-overdose-deaths.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.beckershospitalreview.com|date=24 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kowalick|first=Claire|title=Survey: Singles drinking more during COVID lockdown|url=https://www.timesrecordnews.com/story/news/local/2020/06/18/survey-singles-drinking-more-during-covid-lockdown/3213985001/|access-date=2021-02-27|website=Times Record News|language=en-US}}</ref> The company also conducted other alcohol-related surveys and studies during the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=mHealthIntelligence|date=2020-10-01|title=Amid Rising Substance Abuse Rates, Treatment Centers Turn to Telehealth|url=https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/amid-rising-substance-abuse-rates-treatment-centers-turn-to-telehealth|access-date=2021-02-27|website=mHealthIntelligence|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Controversy == In 2018, a California jury issued a verdict against AAC, awarding $7 million to the family of a patient who committed suicide in a AAC facility and died 20 hours after his arrival.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/7-million-jury-verdict-against-american-addiction-centers-rehab|title=Jury holds drug rehab responsible for suicide|first=Adam|last=Walser|date=6 February 2018|work=WFTS|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>

According to an investigation by ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]'', centers managed by AAC often leave patients unattended, which led to some patient deaths and lawsuits. AAC denies it and claims that its death rate is the lowest in the industry.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/04/american-addiction-centers-publicly-traded-rehab/|title=America's only publicly traded addiction treatment chain makes millions off patients. What could go wrong?|last=Lurie|first=Julia|work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=22 April 2019|access-date=4 October 2019}}</ref>

In May 2019, AAC filed a defamation lawsuit against the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stinnett|first=Joel|title=Brentwood company files multimillion-dollar lawsuit against national trade organization|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2019/05/06/brentwood-company-files-multimillion-dollar.html|access-date=2021-02-27|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed in late 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coward |first=Kyle |date=2022-02-03 |title=American Addiction Centers Taps Former Gateway Foundation Executive as New CEO |url=https://bhbusiness.com/2022/02/03/american-addiction-centers-taps-former-gateway-foundation-executive-as-new-ceo/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=Behavioral Health Business |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2025, AAC was faced with a class action lawsuit for allegedly violating HIPPA after experiencing a cyberattack where personal and health information was accessed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Addiction Centers Faces HIPAA Class Action After Cyber-A |url=https://natlawreview.com/article/american-addiction-centers-hit-phi-breach-class-action |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=natlawreview.com |language=en}}</ref> In November 2025, AAC reached a $2.75 million settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Umanah |first=Ufonobong |date=24 November 2025 |title=American Addiction Centers to Pay $2.75 Million Over Data Breach |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/american-addiction-centers-to-pay-2-75-million-over-data-breach |website=Bloomberg Law}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Addiction Centers}} [[Category:Health care companies established in 2007]] [[Category:Addiction organizations in the United States]] [[Category:Health care companies based in Tennessee]] [[Category:2007 establishments in Tennessee]] [[Category:2014 initial public offerings]] [[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]