The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

Dear Colleagues,

We invite authors to submit original research, reviews or perspectives to a new special issue of The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (AJDAA, 2022 Impact Factor: 2.7), “Molecular Basis Underlying Ethanol-Induced Withdrawal and Relapse: Findings from Pre-Clinical Models”.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) continues to be a significant public health concern worldwide. Despite advancements in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of AUD, there are still gaps in our knowledge, particularly regarding withdrawal and relapse, the insidious recurrence of maladaptive patterns of alcohol (ethanol) use that can take place even years after cessation of drinking. Pre-clinical models serve as invaluable tools for studying the molecular underpinnings of these phenomena, providing insights that can inform clinical interventions. For instance, preclinical models have indicated the permissive role that cues associated with ethanol drinking or ethanol’s effects exert upon ethanol-induced withdrawal and relapse.

Topics of Interest of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

• Neurobiological mechanisms of ethanol-induced withdrawal, such as dysregulation in the brain's reward circuitry (including anxiety and depressive-like behaviors) observed during ethanol abstinence, and mechanisms implicated in relapse.
• Epigenetic factors implicated in ethanol withdrawal and increased risk of relapse including changes in DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs.
• Neuroadaptations resulting from chronic ethanol exposure, such as alterations in gene expression, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter systems, that contribute to the pathophysiology of AUD.
• Interactions between ethanol exposure and stress-related pathways that affect the course of ethanol withdrawal symptoms and relapse.
• Impact of neuroinflammation on ethanol withdrawal and relapse
• Assessment of novel pharmacotherapies with the potential to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.
• Structural and functional brain changes during ethanol withdrawal and relapse, as described via immunohistochemical or neuroimaging techniques.
• Description of new pre-clinical models for understanding the neurobiological alterations observed during ethanol withdrawal and relapse.
• Description of molecular mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments and executive dysfunction following chronic ethanol exposure, and explorations of their involvement in relapse.

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse accepts the following types of articles: Perspectives, Reviews, Original Articles, Letters to the Editor, and Methods in Addiction Research. Contributions across all types of articles received by the journal will be considered for this Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted to this special issue must adhere to the journal's formatting and submission guidelines, available on the American Journal of Alcohol and Drug Abuse website. All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review to ensure scientific rigor and quality.

Questions on this special issue can be sent directly to the Senior Editor, Dr. Ricardo M Pautassi at: [email protected] or [email protected]

Manuscripts may be submitted between May 1, 2024 and December 14^th, 2024. Manuscripts will be published in an ongoing basis as online-only (i.e., immediately after acceptance) and then collected in a hard copy special issue.

Authors may submit a very short letter of intent / interest (via email) to the Editors to assess thematic suitability of the contribution for the Special Issue. This is not, however, a requirement. The full manuscript can be submitted directly to the journal.

Manuscripts should be sent via this journal’s ScholarOne manuscript submission system at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/lada. When asked if your submission is to be included in a special issue, please select the " Molecular Basis Underlying Ethanol-Induced Withdrawal and Relapse: Findings from Pre-Clinical Models". If you haven't submitted a paper to this journal before, you will need to create an account in ScholarOne. Please read author’s guidelines at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/authorSubmission?show=instructions&journalCode=iada20#submitting-your-paper

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article