1. General Information

The SCICONX Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research (JDAR) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research related to drugs, alcohol, substance use, addiction, and related interdisciplinary fields. Authors are encouraged to carefully review these instructions prior to manuscript submission to ensure a smooth and efficient peer review and publication process.

All submissions must represent original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal.

Formatting Template (Click here to download).

2. Types of Manuscripts Accepted

JDAR considers the following categories of manuscripts:

Original Research Articles - Full-length manuscripts reporting novel experimental, clinical, epidemiological, or qualitative research.

Review Articles - Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, narrative reviews, and mini-reviews that synthesize existing literature and provide critical insights.

Clinical Studies and Translational Research - Manuscripts focusing on clinical interventions, diagnostic approaches, and translational applications in addiction and substance use research.

Short Communications - Brief reports of preliminary or innovative findings of significant interest.

Case Reports and Case Series - Well-documented clinical cases that provide educational or novel clinical insights.

Public Health and Policy Analyses - Manuscripts addressing public health strategies, program evaluations, and policy-related research.

Perspectives and Commentaries - Scholarly opinions on emerging issues, controversies, and future directions in drug and alcohol research.

3. Manuscript Preparation

3.1 Language and Style

• Manuscripts must be written in clear, professional English.
• Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to seek language editing prior to submission.
• The journal follows a scientific writing style emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and transparency.

3.2 Manuscript Structure

Original Research Articles should generally include:

• Title Page
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Acknowledgments (if applicable)
• Funding Statement
• Conflict of Interest Statement
• References

Other article types should follow a logical structure appropriate to the manuscript type.

3.3 Title Page

The title page must include:

• Full manuscript title
• Short running title (if applicable)
• Full names of all authors
• Institutional affiliations
• Corresponding author’s name, email address, and institutional address
• ORCID IDs (optional but encouraged)

3.4 Abstract and Keywords

• Abstracts should be structured or unstructured depending on article type.
• Recommended length: 200 - 300 words for full articles.
• Provide 4 - 6 relevant keywords for indexing and discoverability.

3.5 Figures and Tables

• Figures and tables should be cited in the text in numerical order.
• Provide clear titles and descriptive legends.
• Figures must be of high resolution and suitable for online publication.
• Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted material.

3.6 References

• References must be accurate and complete.
• The journal recommends the use of a standardized reference style (e.g., Vancouver or APA), and consistency is required throughout the manuscript.
• Authors are responsible for ensuring that all cited references are relevant and correctly formatted.

4. Ethical Requirements

4.1 Human Subjects Research

Research involving human participants must:

• Have approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB)
• Include a statement confirming informed consent
• Comply with international ethical principles for human research

4.2 Animal Research

Studies involving animals must:

• Follow institutional and national guidelines for animal care and use
• Include ethical approval statements
• Minimize animal suffering and use alternatives where possible

5. Clinical Trial Registration

Clinical trials should be registered in a publicly accessible clinical trial registry prior to participant enrolment. The registration number and registry name must be included in the manuscript.

6. Conflict of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the work. If no conflicts exist, authors should include a statement declaring that no conflicts of interest are present.

7. Funding Statement

Authors must clearly identify all sources of financial support for the research. If the study received no specific funding, this should be stated explicitly.

8. Plagiarism and Originality

All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism and redundant publication. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, excessive similarity, or unethical publication practices will be rejected.

Authors must ensure that their work is original and that all sources are appropriately cited.

9. Data Availability and Transparency

Authors are encouraged to include a Data Availability Statement describing how supporting data can be accessed. Transparency in methodology and data reporting is strongly encouraged to support reproducibility.

10. Peer Review Process

JDAR uses a rigorous peer review process to ensure scientific quality and integrity. Manuscripts are evaluated by independent experts in the field. Authors may be requested to revise their manuscripts based on reviewer feedback. The journal strives to provide timely and constructive reviews.

11. Open Access and Copyright

All articles published in JDAR are open access and freely available to readers worldwide. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal the right to publish and distribute the article. Specific licensing terms may be provided on the journal website.

12. Article Processing Charges (APC)

JDAR operates under an open access model that may involve an Article Processing Charge (APC) to support editorial, peer review, and publication services. Information regarding APC amounts, discounts, and other policies will be provided on the journal website. APC decisions do not influence editorial decisions, which are based solely on scientific merit.

13. Submission Process

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal’s official submission system or via the designated editorial email as specified on the journal website.

Authors should ensure that:

• All required files are uploaded
• Manuscript formatting follows these guidelines
• Ethical statements and disclosures are included

14. Post-Acceptance Process

Following acceptance, manuscripts will undergo:

• Copyediting and formatting
• Proof review by authors
• Final online publication

Authors are responsible for reviewing proofs promptly to avoid publication delays.

15. Contact Information

For questions regarding manuscript preparation or submission, authors may contact the editorial office of the SCICONX Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research through the official contact details provided on the journal website.