Kenneth Blum, Ph.D, MSc, BA (Pharmacy), DHL.

Editor-in-Chief

Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA

Rajendra D. Badgaiyan, MD, MA (Psychology)

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Chief of Psychiatry, South Texas Veteran Health Care System, Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital, San Antonio, TX, USA

Frequency: Bi-annual | ISSN: 2693-2180 | Previous Titles: Journal of Reward Deficiency Syndrome, Journal of Reward Deficiency Syndrome and Addiction Science

Abstracted/Indexed in: OCLC–WorldCat, SHERPA/RoMEO, Hinari, Genamics, J-Gate, Scilit, Google Scholar

Welcome Note

It is a great pleasure to announce the inauguration of the first journal dedicated to the concept of Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS), coined in 1996 by one of us (KB) as a new perspective on addictive, obsessive, and compulsive behaviors, including substance and process addictions, personality, and spectrum disorders. The RDS concept, embraced by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) in its new definition of addiction, has appeared in encyclopedias and been cited globally in hundreds of peer-reviewed articles.

The Journal of Addiction Science provides a platform for understanding the commonality of brain function underlying substance and non-substance addictive behaviors. Exploration of the resting-state functionality of the brain reward circuitry and associated extended networks provides a basis for understanding diverse addictive behaviors that share common brain mechanisms. These mechanisms, involving the prefrontal cortices, memory, and related systems, are being elucidated through thousands of neuroimaging studies worldwide.

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August 14, 2026

Substance Use and Psychological Distress as Correlates of Mental Illness in Older Adults: A Nationally Representative Analysis

Tom Alexander and Rosina E. Mete
Purpose: Mental illness (MI) is a substantial and under-recognized burden among older adults in the United States. Despite this, limited research has examined how specific behavioral risk factors, including binge drinking, prescription misuse, and psychological distress, are associated with MI among adults aged 65 and older.

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November 14, 2025

Leadership Development in Addiction Counseling: A Conceptual Framework for Ethical Practice, Workforce Sustainability, and Burnout Prevention

Carmela Y. Drake
Leadership in addiction counseling is not only an administrative skill but also an ethical mandate. This conceptual paper examines leadership competencies most desired by addiction professionals, analyzes common leadership styles in clinical settings, and integrates these perspectives into a conceptual framework that links ethical obligations, professional practice, and workforce sustainability.

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July 3, 2025

Addressing the Silent Epidemic: Compassion Fatigue and the Sustainability of the Addiction Counselling Workforce

Brian N. Paulson, Amy L. Hayes, Brad A. Imhoff, Stacey C. Lilley and Charlotte A. Crosland
The escalating demand for substance abuse treatment, amplified by global crises and their enduring consequences, has cast a stark light on the occupational health of addiction counselors. While research has extensively documented the prevalence and impact of burnout and compassion fatigue (CF) across various helping professions, the unique challenges encountered by addiction counselors necessitate a more focused examination.

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Scope, Aims & Topics

The Journal of Addiction Science (JAS) is a peer-reviewed, quarterly journal dedicated to advancing research and clinical practice in addiction medicine and addiction science. The journal promotes addiction medicine as an important medical specialty and provides a platform for physicians, researchers, mental health professionals, psychoanalysts, technologists, policymakers, and other healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge on addiction disorders and their management.
JAS aims to advance understanding of the biological, psychological, genetic, environmental, and social mechanisms underlying addictive, impulsive, and compulsive behaviors. Particular emphasis is placed on Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS) and the interplay of genetic and environmental factors associated with addiction and related behavioral disorders.

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