The Finnish Association for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Research (AHR) is a multi-disciplinary scientific society, which was established in 1960 (ATS) to promote scientific alcohol research in Finland. In 2001, the society expanded to drug research (AHTS) and in 2019 gambling research (AHR). The society provides a platform for both scholars and students working in the field of alcohol, drug and gambling research and for professionals and practitioners in the treatment and prevention field for discussion and communication of research results and publications around alcohol, drug and gambling related themes. One of the main activities of the AHR society has been, and still is, the organization of seminars. In recent years, the society has organized annually two to three seminars. The topics have included e.g. alcohol, drug and gambling policy and public health, current trends in alcohol and drug treatment and other social and health services, drugs in the media, drug testing, and alcohol, online environments and addictions, addiction-related deaths and drug use among young people. The society operates mainly in Finland but is active also in international alcohol, drug and gambling research networks. AHR also collaborates with other scientific societies and research networks in Finland.

The history of the Finnish Society for Alcohol and Drug Research is described in an article published in Addiction (Salasuo & Kuusi, 2007). You can read the article here.

Should you have any questions about the Society, please contact
the secretary Dr. Heli Hagfors at sihteeri(at)ahrseura.fi

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The recognition award by the Finnish Association for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Research is granted to the best research article focusing on substance use or gambling.

The Finnish Association for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Research (AHR) annually awards one research article on substance use or gambling, published in the previous year, that stands out through its choice of topic, research design, and/or argumentation by offering an innovative or timely perspective to the field. The Best Article of the Year -award brings visibility to emerging research on substance use and gambling. Its goal is to support researchers at various career stages by enhancing their opportunities and career advancement within the field.

Anyone can nominate a suitable article by June 26, 2026, by emailing sihteeri(at)ahrseura.fi.

Participation criteria for the 2026 Best Article of the Year award:

• The article should offer an innovative or timely perspective on substance use or gambling research.
• The article must be published during the year 2025 in a peer-reviewed journal or edited volume.
• The article may be intended for either a Finnish or international audience.
• The lead author’s affiliated research organization must be based in Finland.
• In line with the Association’s mission, we encourage nominations representing diverse disciplines and research methods.
• Each nomination must include a free-form justification (approximately half a page) explaining why the article deserves to be awarded.
• Researchers may nominate, for example, a colleague’s or supervisee’s publication. Self-nominations are also allowed; however, a nominee may only be the lead author in one nominated article.

Evaluation and announcements

The board of the Association will select three articles from all nominations to the second round. The final selection will be made by two annually rotating experts appointed by the board. This ensures balanced representation of different academic disciplines and objectivity in evaluation.

The winner will be announced at the AHR Autumn Seminar. The Association will publicize the winning article through multiple channels.

For more information: sihteeri(at)ahrseura.fi