Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health

Dear Colleagues,

Substance use disorder (SUD) continues to be a critical global public health challenge, exerting profound and far-reaching effects on mental health, individuals, families, and entire communities. The complex, bidirectional relationship between substance use and mental health disorders drives heightened rates of morbidity and mortality. While awareness and research in this field have expanded, significant gaps remain in prevention, early detection, access to treatment, timely intervention, and integrated models of care.

Healthcare professionals stand at the forefront of addressing these multifaceted and interrelated conditions. Pharmacists, physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and community health workers each play a vital role in screening, diagnosis, treatment, harm reduction, recovery support, and advocacy. Yet, they routinely encounter significant obstacles such as limited resources, insufficient staffing, and fragmented healthcare systems. There is an urgent need for robust, globally representative research to guide evidence-based interventions and sustainable approaches to care. We invite submissions that highlight the diverse and evolving roles of healthcare professionals, aiming to enhance their visibility and optimize SUD and mental health care delivery across various settings.

Aim of the Topic

This Topic seeks to advance the global understanding of SUD and its profound impact on mental health, emphasizing the experiences, perspectives, roles, and unique challenges faced by frontline healthcare professionals. We aim to showcase groundbreaking research, pioneering clinical practices, effective interventions, and actionable policy insights that can enhance prevention, treatment, recovery, and the successful reintegration of individuals into society, supporting sustained progress worldwide.

Scope and Topics of Interest

We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, insightful case studies, thoughtful commentaries, and other scholarly contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Epidemiology and global burden of SUD and co-occurring mental health conditions;
• Integrated models of care for SUD and mental health disorders;
• Frontline healthcare professionals’ experiences, competencies, and training needs;
• Screening, early intervention, and prevention strategies in clinical and community settings;
• Health system, policy, and workforce challenges affecting SUD and mental health services;
• Education of students and training of public health professionals;
• Genomic studies in this arena;
• Women with SUD and adolescent health studies;

Types of Submissions

• Original quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research;
• Commentaries and opinion manuscripts from frontline healthcare professionals;
• Literature reviews, including rapid, Scopus, and Systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses;
• Policy analyses and practice-based evidence;

Dr. Alina Cernasev
Dr. Karen J. Derefinko
Topic Editors