Cogent Mental Health

Substances in many ways are a normal aspect of human life. They come in different forms and with varying legal statuses, but the consumption and use of substances can be considered part of a social life, or an everyday habit. However, sometimes behaviors and habits can veer over the edge of misuse, given that any substance in excess can lead to detrimental effects.

Cogent Mental Health is inviting submissions for an Article Collection addressing the complex links between substance use and mental health. We invite investigators to contribute forward-thinking original empirical research (broadly defined), reviews, and novel theoretical pieces that address the connections between the use of licit and/or illicit substances and mental wellbeing. Potential topics of interest include (but are not limited to) those listed below.

• Innovative developments in the assessment and treatment of substance use and substance use disorders (e.g., digital technologies and mobile health approaches that can be used in real-world settings).
• Emerging trends in trajectories of substance use across diverse populations (e.g., fluctuations in the prevalence of electronic cigarette use among adolescents) and the potential implications that such trends have for psychological health.
• The impact of recent changes in public policies and regulations (e.g., the rapidly evolving landscape of laws regarding cannabis use) on substance use and mental health outcomes.
• Key questions and issues concerning the recovery process for individuals with substance use disorders, including debates concerning the viability of non-abstinence as an outcome goal.
• Ethical considerations for research and clinical practice related to substance use and mental health, including issues related to stigma, confidentiality, and patient autonomy.
• The impact of social determinants of health (e.g., economic stability, discrimination) on the intersection of substance use and mental health.

Instructions for Authors

The following Article Types will be considered: basic and clinical, as well as epidemiological original research, meta-analyses, systematic and scoping reviews, and narrative reviews. When submitting your article, please select, ‘Evaluating the relationship between substance use and mental health’ from the drop-down menu within the submission system.

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article