Aims and Scope

Purpose and Scope

The Journal of Addiction Therapy and Research (JATR) is committed to publishing innovative and high-quality manuscripts that explore the detection, treatment, prevention and policy implications of both substance use disorders and behavioural addictions. It emphasises a translational approach: linking fundamental research with clinical practice, and supporting the translation of evidence into therapy, rehabilitation and public health interventions.

Specifically, JATR's aim is to:

• Provide a rigorous, ethical, peer-reviewed outlet for research into addiction mechanisms, interventions, outcomes and policy.
• Bridge the gap between laboratory, clinic and community settings so that findings inform real-world addiction therapy and recovery processes.
• Encourage contributions from multidisciplinary teams—psychiatry, psychology, neuroscience, public health, social work, and community advocacy—to reflect the complexity of addiction.
• Promote research that addresses global, cultural and social determinants of addiction, ensuring relevance for diverse populations and settings.
• Foster open access dissemination of knowledge so that treatment professionals, policymakers, service providers and affected communities can benefit from timely insights.

This broad remit positions JATR not only as an academic journal but also as a catalyst for change: one that supports evidence-informed therapy and policy in the domain of addiction.

Topic Areas and Article Types

We welcome manuscripts across a wide spectrum of topics including—but not limited to—the following areas:

Core topic areas

• Mechanisms of addiction: neurobiology, genetics, epigenetics, behavioural neuroscience, reward circuits and vulnerability factors.
• Substance use disorders: alcohol, opioids, stimulants, cannabis, tobacco, emerging psychoactive substances and polysubstance use.
• Behavioural and process addictions: gambling, internet/gaming, mobile device use, food, exercise, sex and related compulsive behaviours.
• Treatment and therapies: pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions (e.g., CBT, motivational interviewing, family therapy), digital health tools, harm-reduction services, relapse prevention and recovery support.
• Co-occurring conditions: dual diagnosis of mental health and substance use, intersectional issues (e.g., trauma, homelessness, incarceration, migration, gender/diversity, indigenous populations).
• Prevention, policy and systems: epidemiology, screening, early intervention, integrated care, public health and regulatory frameworks, service delivery models, implementation science and outcome evaluation.
• Global and cultural perspectives: cross-national studies, low- and middle-income country settings, health equity, translational and implementation outcomes in under-served populations.

Article types

Suitable formats include:

• Original Research Articles reporting new empirical data or clinical trials with robust design and ethical oversight.
• Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses summarising evidence, including quantitative synthesis and clinical implications.
• Narrative Reviews and Mini-Reviews offering timely overviews or future directions in addiction therapy, policy or neuroscience.
• Short Communications presenting novel findings, pilot data or innovative methodologies in concise form.
• Case Reports & Case Series when they highlight important clinical lessons, novel treatment approaches or policy relevance.
• Letters to the Editor and Debate pieces discussing emerging issues in addiction research, policy, service delivery or clinical practice.
• Practice/Policy Commentaries that bridge research and implementation—featuring service innovations, global programs, lived-experience perspectives, and commentary on system design or regulation.

Intended Audience and Impact

JATR’s content is designed to support a diverse readership including:

• Clinicians (psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, addiction specialists) actively engaged in assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of addictive disorders.
• Public health professionals, policy-makers, service managers and commissioners working to design, deliver or evaluate prevention and harm-reduction programmes.
• Researchers and academics in addiction science, behavioural medicine, neuroscience, epidemiology, implementation science and health services research.
• Community organisations, peer-led services, recovery networks and allied practitioners who seek to integrate evidence into practice and outcomes.

By combining rigorous academic standards with operational relevance, JATR aims to generate work that makes a measurable difference for people affected by addiction, their families and communities.

Global & Inclusive Perspective

Recognising that addiction is a global challenge, JATR emphasises inclusivity and equity. The journal encourages:

• Submissions from under-represented regions (e.g., low- and middle-income countries, remote populations, indigenous communities) and multidisciplinary authorship and collaboration.
• Culturally-sensitive research design and reporting—attending to context, language, accessibility and diversity of participants and interventions.
• Open access dissemination so that resource-constrained settings can freely access and apply research findings.
• Transparent metrics, responsible citation practices and inclusive language that reflects the dignity and rights of those with lived experience of addiction.

Why Submit to JATR?

Authors choosing JATR benefit from:

• A fast, constructive editorial process aligned with open access best practices.
• Visibility across global indexing services, ensuring that published work reaches clinicians, policymakers, researchers and service providers.
• Assignment of a permanent Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and inclusion in structured metadata for enhanced discoverability.
• A publication model that emphasises the translation of research into therapy, policy and practice—not simply academic advancement.
• An inclusive culture that welcomes multidisciplinary teams, early-career authors, international co-authors and lived-experience collaborators.

In short: if your manuscript addresses the nature, treatment or systems of addiction—and you aim for impact—JATR is designed for your work.

Is Your Manuscript a Good Fit?

Here are some guidelines to assess fit before submission:

• Does the manuscript present **new knowledge** or a substantial synthesis of evidence relevant to addiction therapy, prevention or policy?
• Are the methods appropriate, rigorous and well described, with ethics approvals and disclosures when required?
• Is the article written in a clear, accessible style and is it likely to inform clinicians, service providers or policy-makers as well as researchers?
• Does it consider broader implications—e.g., implementation in real-world settings, scalability, equity, cultural context or lived experience?
• If your topic is niche (for instance, emerging tech or behavioural addiction), does your manuscript clearly articulate why that topic matters to the field of addiction therapy and research?

If you answer “yes” to most of these, your manuscript stands a strong chance of aligning with JATR’s scope. If not, you might consider targeting a different specialist journal or collaborating further to strengthen the practice-oriented dimension before submission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)