The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health announced today that it is changing the name of its scientific journal Perspectives to the Journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, beginning with the November issue. The new title is designed to better reflect the journal’s committment to covering the exchange of ideas between researchers, clinicians, and others in the field of addiction science. NIDA will also increase the number of issues per year from once to twice a year, to accommodate the sizeable portfolio of scientific literature being produced in the growing field of drug abuse and addiction research. The peer-reviewed NIDA publication is the most widely distributed journal on addiction science.

The Journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice will also be included in the National Library of Medicine’s MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) database, significantly expanding the reach and influence of its contributors’ findings and insights. MEDLINE is the largest component of PubMed, a freely acccessible online database of biomedical journal citations and abstracts.

“Changing the name to The Journal of Addiction Science & Clinical Practice reflects our ongoing commitment to bringing the latest in addiction science from the laboratory to clinical field as quickly as possible,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow.” In addition, publishing the journal more frequently and broadening its access through MEDLINE will increase visibility and usage of this informative publication by researchers, clinicians, students, policymakers, and other relevant audiences.”

Addiction Science & Clinical Practice promotes dialogue between scientists and addiction treatment professionals with the aim of improving drug abuse treatment and research. The journal’s exchange of information, observations, and insights helps clinicians make the most of their programs and treatment outcomes while providing researchers with tools to construct new hypotheses and design studies highly relevant to the needs of providers and patients. Each issue includes:

• Up-to-the-minute reviews by leading researchers of the most critical topics in the science of drug abuse prevention and treatment;
• Top service providers’ perspectives on what can and does work in diverse community treatment settings;
• Panel discussions on the practical implications of each article for both researchers and service providers; and
• Examples of successful research — practice collaborations.

Final acceptance of submitted articles is contingent upon the results of a rigorous peer review and editorial judgment that it is suitable for publication in a NIDA journal. The Perspectives distinguished editorial board has a wealth of scientific and clinical drug abuse expertise. Board members include: Dr. Kathleen Brady, Medical University of South Carolina; Dr. Linda Chang, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii; Dr. James Cornish, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Dr. Christiane Farentinos, ChangePoint, Inc., Portland, Oregon; Dr. Joseph Frascella, NIDA’s Division of Clinical Neuroscience and Behavioral Research; Dr. Thomas Kosten, Baylor College of Medicine; Dr. Richard Rawson, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine; Dr. Daniel Santisteban, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; and Dr. James Sorenson, San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco.

Past issues, subscription information, and instructions for author submissions can be found online at http://www.drugabuse.gov/perspectives.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home page at www.drugabuse.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.