Global Mapping and Visualization of Substance Use Disorders and Treatment: Implications for Priority Setting

Understanding the global landscape of substance use disorders (SUD) and treatment is crucial for guiding future work. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of research published between 1902 and 2025.

We systematically searched the Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) for relevant publications within the specified timeframe. Bibliometric network analyses and quantitative analysis (keyword/country co-occurrence, trends, impact, contribution) utilized R. Data included publications, topics, institutions, countries, journals, and keywords.

From the 1902s to the 1963s, the number of published scientific publications was very few and scattered. With the onset of the 21^st century, the growth trend accelerated, reaching 1039 publications in 2017. Key research themes identified included "Cigarette-Smoking," "Smoker," "Alcohol," "Smoking-Cessation," and "Behavioral therapy." The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and China were the most productive countries. The University of California, Harvard University, University of Toronto, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) have recorded the highest scientific outputs. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, and Addiction published the most articles.

This study offers an objective overview of the global SUD and treatment research landscape (1902-2025). Our findings map publication trends, influential institutes, countries, journals, and key research themes. This provides a valuable reference for researchers, institutions, and journals to understand the current state and pinpoint areas for future investigation in this dynamic field.