International Journal of Drug Policy

Aims & Scope

The International Journal of Drug Policy provides a forum for the dissemination of current research, reviews, debate, and critical analysis on drug use and drug policy in a global context.

It seeks to publish material on the social, political, legal, and health contexts of psychoactive substance use, both licit and illicit.

The journal is particularly concerned to explore the effects of drug policy and practice on drug-using behaviour and its health and social consequences.

It is the policy of the journal to represent a wide range of material on drug-related matters from around the world.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	4.4
2024	4.40

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	1.483

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	106

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	2438

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	3862

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science
• Medline
• Embase

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Medicine, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• The ‘risk environment’: a framework for understanding and reducing drug-related harm

  Citation: 947

  Authors: Tim

• Risk environments and drug harms: A social science for harm reduction approach

  Citation: 744

  Authors: Tim

• The triple wave epidemic: Supply and demand drivers of the US opioid overdose crisis

  Citation: 546

  Authors: Daniel

• Stigma at every turn: Health services experiences among people who inject drugs

  Citation: 405

  Authors: Catherine E., Jennifer L., Robin A.

• Chemsex behaviours among men who have sex with men: A systematic review of the literature

  Citation: 395

  Authors: Steven, Maryam, Mitzy

• Fentanyl in the US heroin supply: A rapidly changing risk environment

  Citation: 374

  Authors: Daniel

• Does it matter how we refer to individuals with substance-related conditions? A randomized study of two commonly used terms

  Citation: 347

  Authors: John F., Cassandra M.

• “Every ‘Never’ I Ever Said Came True”: Transitions from opioid pills to heroin injecting

  Citation: 336

  Authors: Sarah G., Philippe, George, Fernando, Daniel

• Initiation into prescription opioid misuse amongst young injection drug users

  Citation: 327

  Authors: Stephen E., Michelle, Karol, Jennifer Jackson, Alex, Meghan

• “Chemsex” and harm reduction need among gay men in South London

  Citation: 267

  Authors: Adam, David, Ford, Sergio, Paul, Peter

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