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Start SubmissionIJPTSUD publishes original research articles and papers in the fields of drug addiction with special emphasis on issues related to developing economies. The aim is to provide a forum for discussion on evidence‐based interventions for drug related problems relevant to the context and needs of developing economies. A key intention is to promote the dissemination of existing evidence and develop capacity to implement locally relevant evidence based practice. The journal will prioritize issues pertaining to illicit drugs, as opposed to any focus on alcohol or tobacco use in isolation. Papers on research based approaches to prevention and treatment will be encouraged.
Notices for authors
An article submitted to the IJPTSUD implies that the manuscript is not submitted for publication in any other journal. The manuscripts are edited and peer reviewed by an editorial board.
Plagiarism:
Authors should ensure their manuscripts are free of plagiarism. This can even be citing the authors’ own work, without acknowledgement. If texts, figures, tables and images are taken from other sources, they should be properly acknowledged and cite. We have zero tolerance for plagiarism, fabricating research results and all other related international misconduct and if discovered will return the work immediately.
Manuscript submission and format
Submit manuscripts to international.journal@colomboplan.org.
Please use Calibri 12 –point type and the 8 X 11 page setting. The document should be double spaced throughout and page numbers should be placed in the upper right corner and maintain a margin of 1” in every side.
ARTICLE TYPES AND WORD COUNTS
Original papers/Research Reports
Manuscripts reporting results of original research should follow the IMRaD style (Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion) and should have a structured abstract (Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion). All research on human subjects must have been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and must have conformed to the principles embodied in the Declaration of Helsinki (see Ethics Approval for more guidelines). A statement to this effect must be included in the methods section of the paper. Word count: up to 3000 words. Abstract: maximum of 250 words (Background, Methods, Results and Conclusion). Tables/Illustrations: up to 5. References: up to 40.
Case Reports/Short Reports
Case reports or manuscripts reporting initial results of innovative research that deserve immediate dissemination before finalisation. Short Reports should follow the IMRaD style and should have a structured abstract. (See above). Word count: up to 1500 words. Structured Abstract: up to 200 words. Tables/Illustrations: up to 2. References: up to 20.
Essays
Manuscripts reporting analytic, interpretative or critical point of views and scientific arguments about a subject relevant for interventions and pragmatic approaches to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, epidemiology or public health. There is no fixed style, but submissions should aim to demonstrate clearly the messages from the issue under consideration. The abstract may be structured or unstructured according to the characteristics of the manuscript. Word count: up to 3000 words. Abstract: up to 250 words. Tables/Illustrations: up to 5. References: up to 50.
Editorials
Editorials are usually commissioned, but we are happy to consider and peer review unsolicited editorials. Word count: up to 1200 words. Tables/Illustrations: 1. References: up to 12 references.
Theory and methods
Manuscripts reporting novel methods or conceptual frameworks relevant to investigation of epidemiological or public health research problems. When possible they must follow the IMRaD style. The abstract may be structured or unstructured according to the characteristics of the manuscript. Word count: up to 3000 words. Abstract: up to 250 words. Tables/Illustrations: up to 5. References: up to 40.
Reviews
Manuscripts reporting exhaustive, critical assessments of published literature on a relevant issue. Reviews should be prepared in strict compliance with MOOSE or PRISMA guidelines or with Cochrane's complementary guidelines for systematic reviews of health promotion and public health interventions. The journal encourages authors to use alternative databases covering scientific literature from low‐ and middle‐income countries not indexed in the traditional international databases (i.e. Medline, Web of Science). Word count: up to 3000 words. Structured abstract: maximum of 250 words. Tables/Illustrations: up to 5. References: up to 40.
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor are expected to include original data or substantiated comments or criticism arising from recent articles published in the journal. Word count: up to 400 words. Tables/Illustrations: 1. References: up to 5.
Supplements
The journal is willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. (e.g. the proceedings of a meeting, supplement on a particular theme or topic). It is vital that the journal's integrity, independence and academic reputation is not compromised in any way. Please contact the Chief Editor for details.
All manuscripts should have the following:
Cover letter
Title page
Manuscript format
References
All materials submitted are assumed to be submitted exclusively to the journal unless the contrary is stated. Submissions may be returned to the author for amendment if presented in the incorrect format.
Cover letter
The cover letter should inform the Chief Editor of any special considerations regarding your submission and that the manuscript has not been previously published. Authors are welcome to suggest names (with e‐mail addresses) of three potential reviewers.
Manuscript format
The manuscript must be submitted in Word. PDF format is not accepted. The manuscript must be presented in the following order:
A. Title page
The title page must contain the following information:
B. Abstract (or summary for case reports).
No references should be mentioned in abstracts or summaries. C.
Main text
Use complete sentences, and spell out acronyms at first mention. Numbers that begin a sentence must always be written out. Use of footnotes is not permitted. Abbreviations and symbols must be standard and SI units used throughout except for blood pressure values, which are reported in mm Hg. Whenever possible, drugs should be given their approved generic name. Where a proprietary (brand) name is used, it should begin with a capital letter.
D. Tables
Should be in the same format as your article (i.e. Word) and not another format embedded into the document. They should be placed where the table is cited and they must be cited in the main text in numerical order. Tables should be self‐explanatory and the data they contain must not be duplicated in the text or figures.
E. Acknowledgments, Competing interests, Funding.
You may acknowledge funding support or other assistance in any form. Full details of the funding institutions, amount of funding and any relevant agreement with the funding agency should be declared at this stage.
F. Reference list.
When using in text citation, use the last name of the author and the publication year of document such as (Smith, 2015). While quoting directly from a source, you must use quotations with page number and author such as (William, 2008, p.10). If an electronic source such as a website does not have a page number, use its paragraph number instead. Citation with a corresponding reference list entry should be made when referring, summarizing, paraphrasing, or quoting ideas or information from a document. For a complete guide to citing please refer to the following websites:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/02/
https://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/researchguides/citationstyles/APA_citation.html
The publication manual and writing guides are found at the following website:
Some of the following examples were provided at the Penn State University library website:
Citations
References
Please refer to the Purdue Own website for a complete APA guide to citation and referencing.
Images must be uploaded as separate files (view further details in Figures/illustrations)
All images must be cited within the main text in numerical order. Statistical analyses must explain the methods used.
Figures/illustrations
Colour images and charges: If you wish to publish colour figures in print you will be charged a fee that will cover the cost of printing. Alternatively, authors are encouraged to supply colour illustrations for online colour publication and black and white publication in the print. This is offered at no charge.
Histograms should be presented in a simple, two‐dimensional format, with no background grid. All images should be mentioned in the text in numerical order and figure legends should be listed at the end of the manuscript.
Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission from copyright owners to reprint any previously published material included in their article. The Chief Editor reserve the right to refuse any manuscript submitted, whether by invitation or otherwise, and to make suggestions and modifications before publication. Submitted papers must be in final form when submitted; manuscripts will be returned for reworking or retyping that do not conform to required style and format.
Upon acceptance of the manuscript, authors must complete a Transfer of Copyright Agreement as well as provide additional materials and information requested by the editorial office and/or publisher.
As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
Authors’ responsibility and copy right transfer statement
(To be read and signed by each author)
I/We certify that I/we have fully engaged in the conception, methodology, and execution of writing of this work and the analysis of the data (where applicable) as well as in the writing of the manuscript/article, to take public responsibility for it.
I/We certify that the material reported here represents original work carried out by me/us and this is the first submission to a publication. I/we shall produce the original data upon request by the editorial board members.
I/We fully understand that this copyright transfer covers the exclusive right and license to reproduce, publish, distribute and archive the article in all forms and media of expression now known or developed in the future, including reprints, translations, photographic reproductions, microfilm, electronic form (offline, online) or any other reproductions of similar nature.
I/We have obtained the permission for the graphics, images and illustrations from the owners of such intellectual properties before including them into my/our work.
I/We certify that neither this manuscript nor one with substantially similar content under my/our authorship has been published or is being considered for publication elsewhere, except as described in an annexure.
I/We hereby transfer (s), assign (s), or otherwise convey (s) all copyright ownership, including any and all rights incidental thereto, exclusively to the Journal, in the event that such work is published by the Journal.
We give the rights to the corresponding author to make necessary changes of the manuscript and he/she will act as the guarantor for the manuscript on our behalf.
The author retains the right to use his/her article for his/her further scientific career by including the final published journal article in other publications such as dissertations and postdoctoral qualifications provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication.
Title of the manuscript:
We hereby jointly take responsibility for authorship of the above paper submitted for publication of the international Journal of Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders of the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme.
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.