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Aleafia launches new opiate-replacement program; hits the
gas on 1,000-patient opioid-reduction study.
TORONTO, April 4, 2018 /CNW/ - Aleafia Health Inc.
(TSX-V-ALEF) announced that it launched a new opiate replacement
program across its 23 Aleafia/Canabo clinic network.
As the opioid health-crisis continues across North America, Aleafia believes that its new
initiative puts it ahead of the curve in the battle against this
life-destroying epidemic.
In light of new studies released by the American Medical
Association that suggest cannabis may play a role in reducing some
patients' need for opioids, Aleafia's opiate-replacement program is
designed to:
- Increase the pace of Aleafia's previously announced
1,000-patient study on the use of medical cannabis to reduce opioid
addiction,
- Conduct extensive outreach to local and regional patients and
physicians announcing Aleafia/Canabo program to substitute opioids
with medical cannabis, and
- Boost clinic education initiatives about the potential positive
outcomes of replacing opioids with medical cannabis within
Aleafia's patient-focused, physician-led and research-based
environment.
"While the problem of chronic opiate use is now well-identified,
more work is needed to find solutions," said Aleafia director, Dr.
Michael Verbora. "Initial data from
our opiate research study shows promise that cannabinoids can
replace some—or all—of a patient's opiate prescription when being
used for chronic, non-cancer pain. We are keen to continue helping
the millions of Canadians on opiates to consider replacing with
cannabinoid therapy."
Aleafia believes that it is uniquely positioned to have a
meaningful role in the battle against opioids, which killed an
estimated 4,000 Canadians in 2017, and kills an estimated 90
Americans per day. With a 40,000-strong physician-referred
patient-base, and up to 1,500 additional patients joining the
clinic network each month, Aleafia has the capacity to conduct
large-scale studies on opioid reduction, as well as be a force for
good in the education of medical practitioners across the
country.
"From the very beginning, our goal at Aleafia was to provide
evidence-based support for patients and their caregivers by
introducing an effective alternative to the dangerous opioid
option," added Aleafia's Executive Chairman, the Honourable Julian
Fantino. "Today, we are ably positioned to make a meaningful
difference with a large team of cannabinoid medicine experts, an
established, cross-country clinic infrastructure, a
much-sought-after, lucrative observational database, and an
ambitious plan to grow our knowledge into more targeted, effective
strains of medical cannabis for our patients."
About Aleafia Health Inc.:
Aleafia Health Inc.
is one of Canada's leading,
vertically integrated medical cannabis company with a unique
patient-focused, medical cannabis healthcare solution. Led by a
distinguished and experienced corporate leadership team, Aleafia
Health Inc. is pioneering a patient-centric experience that
includes personalized services before, during and after
treatment. Aleafia's 23 cannabis clinics are staffed by licensed,
practicing physicians with more than 80 trained physicians.
Aleafia Health Inc. has realized sustained patient
acquisition growth and retention, underscoring the success of
Canada's first "patient-centric"
cannabis-based health network. For more information, please visit
www.aleafiainc.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements and
information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect
the Aleafia's current expectations. When used in this press
release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate",
"intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the
negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable
terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and
information. The forward-looking statements and information
in this press release includes information relating to the
implementation of Aleafia Health's business plan. Such
statements and information reflect the current view of Aleafia with
respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking
statements and information.
Although Aleafia believes that the assumptions and factors used
in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the
forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue
reliance should not be placed on such information and statements,
and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such
forward-looking information and statements will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information and
statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking information or statements contained
in this press release. The forward-looking information contained in
this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Aleafia does
not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is
contained or referenced herein, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with
applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward
looking information and statements attributable to Aleafia or
persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety
by this notice.
SOURCE Aleafia Inc.