Call for papers: Substance use and the HIV care continuum

Edited by: Dr P. Todd Korthuis and Dr Jennifer Edelman

Addiction Science & Clinical Practice invite you to submit to our new thematic series: Substance use and the HIV care continuum.

The HIV care continuum – also referred to as the HIV treatment cascade – identifies five stages of HIV medical care: 1) HIV diagnosis, 2) linkage to HIV care, 3) engagement and retention in HIV care, 4) treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 5) achievement of HIV viral suppression – all of which are essential in order to effectively treat and prevent the spread of HIV. Recent data from the U.S. estimate that 86% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 40% are engaged in care, 37% receive ART, and only 30% achieve HIV viral suppression. People who use drugs and alcohol are particularly likely to experience gaps in each stage of the HIV care continuum, preventing them from realizing improvements in HIV survival. Screening for and treating substance use disorders may close these gaps in care and help achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal of achieving 90% diagnosis, 90% ART treatment, and 90% HIV viral suppression by 2020.

Addiction Science & Clinical Practice seeks manuscripts that address the impact of drug and/or alcohol use on the HIV care cascade and specifically the role of substance use disorder screening and treatment as a means of meeting the 90-90-90 goal. Submissions may include original research, reviews, meta-analyses, and study protocols that advance understanding of how substance use and its treatment contribute to the HIV care continuum, in U.S. and international settings. The series is open for submissions and articles will be published upon acceptance.

Manuscripts should be formatted according to Addiction Science & Clinical Practice submission guidelines and submitted via the online submission system. All articles in this series will undergo the journal’s full standard peer-review process. In the submission system please make sure the correct collection title is chosen from the “additional information” tab. Please also indicate in the covering letter that the manuscript is to be considered for the 'Substance use and the HIV care continuum' special series. Funds may be available to cover article processing charges, at the Editors’ discretion. For further information, please contact the Co-Editors, Jennifer Edelman and Todd Korthuis at editorial@ascpjournal.org. The Editors of the series declare no competing interests.

Submissions are desired between now and January 31st, 2017, and will be published upon acceptance.