For Reviewers

For Reviewers — ACE Journal of Addiction (ACEJA)

Reviewer Guidelines

ACEJA relies on the expertise and integrity of its peer reviewers to maintain the scientific and clinical quality of published research. Reviewers are asked to evaluate manuscripts fairly, thoroughly, and in strict confidence, in line with the journal's double-blind peer review process.

Review Criteria

Reviewers are asked to assess each manuscript against the following criteria:

  • Originality — Does the manuscript present new findings, perspectives, or a meaningful synthesis not already available in the literature?
  • Relevance to Scope — Does the manuscript fall within ACEJA's scope (addiction, mental health, psychiatry, and related psychosocial, clinical, and public health domains)?
  • Methodological Rigor — Are the study design, sampling, instruments, and statistical analysis appropriate and clearly described?
  • Ethical Compliance — Where the manuscript involves human participants (particularly minors, pregnant individuals, or individuals with substance use or psychiatric disorders), is ethical approval and informed consent clearly documented?
  • Clarity of Presentation — Is the manuscript well-organized, clearly written, and appropriately referenced in NLM style?
  • Validity of Conclusions — Are the conclusions adequately supported by the data and analysis presented?
  • Contribution to the Field — Does the work meaningfully advance understanding, prevention, or treatment relevant to the journal's readership?
Scoring Rubric

Reviewers are asked to rate each manuscript on the following dimensions using a 1–5 scale (1 = Poor, 3 = Acceptable, 5 = Excellent):

Criterion 1 2 3 4 5
Originality and novelty          
Relevance to journal scope          
Methodological rigor          
Ethical compliance          
Clarity and organization          
Quality and appropriateness of referencing          
Validity of conclusions          
Overall contribution to the field          

Based on this assessment, reviewers submit a written report and one of the following recommendations:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

The scoring rubric supports the editor's decision-making; it does not replace the reviewer's detailed written comments, which authors rely on to revise their work.

Confidentiality Expectations
  • Manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or distribute manuscript content with anyone outside the review process without the editor's permission.
  • Reviewers must not use unpublished data, findings, or ideas from a manuscript under review for their own research or professional benefit.
  • Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors, and author identities are not disclosed to reviewers, consistent with the journal's double-blind review policy.
  • Manuscripts containing patient- or participant-identifiable information must be treated with the same confidentiality as clinical records.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Before accepting a review invitation, reviewers must disclose any circumstance that could compromise objectivity, including:

  • A recent professional, collaborative, or personal relationship with any author
  • Involvement in competing or closely related research
  • Financial or institutional ties to the study's funding source, sponsor, or subject matter
  • Any other relationship that could reasonably be perceived as biasing the review

Where a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the invitation or disclose the conflict to the editor, who will decide whether the reviewer may proceed.

Become a Reviewer

ACEJA welcomes applications from qualified researchers, clinicians, and academicians interested in serving as peer reviewers.

Expertise areas needed (aligned with the journal's scope):

  • Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology
  • Substance Abuse and Drug Dependence
  • Addiction and Recovery / Rehabilitation
  • Dual Diagnosis
  • Public Health and Epidemiology
  • Addictions Nursing
  • Social Pharmacology
  • Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology (as related to addiction)
  • Drug Education, Prevention, and Policy
  • Adolescent, Child, and Family Mental Health
  • Behavioral Addictions (e.g., sexual addiction, computer addiction)
  • Substance Use in Pregnancy
  • Ethical, Legal, and Policy Issues in Addiction

To apply, interested reviewers may submit:

  • A current CV or resume
  • A brief statement of subject-matter expertise and relevant publications
  • ORCID ID (if available)

Applications can be submitted to [editor@aceja.org] 

Approved reviewers are added to the journal's reviewer database and contacted as manuscripts matching their expertise become available. Reviewers are under no obligation to accept every invitation and may decline based on availability or conflict of interest.