We are pleased to announce the formation of the Association for Addiction Health Services Research (AAHSR) as a new professional organization for the addiction field. AAHSR is committed to sponsoring an annual scientific conference to disseminate addiction health services research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and promote the translation of findings into evidence-based practice and policy. We hope you will become a Charter Member!
Why form a new professional association? Two main reasons: To ensure the longevity of the annual Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR) Conference and to support the ongoing growth of our field. Planning and hosting the AHSR Conference has been a labor of love by committed volunteers for more than 20 years. In the absence of a professional organization, conference planners have largely started from scratch every year without a steady infrastructure of conference planning resources to draw upon and have had to assume up-front financial risk to secure venues and other commitments. This model placed a lot of stress on the local hosts and, at least once, resulted in no host or conference. Given the many pressures facing higher education, we also anticipate that it will get harder for universities and non-profit research organizations to take on these risks. We want to ensure that the AHSR Conference happens every year, and the most sustainable path to achieve that goal is to form a professional organization to support local host sites.
How does membership work? AAHSR will initially have two categories of membership based on a brief application:
- Regular Members (e.g., faculty, healthcare providers, researchers from non-profit research organizations, policymakers). Annual dues are $200.
- Early Career Members (e.g., current students, post-doctoral fellows, and individuals within three years of completing a terminal degree or fellowship). Annual dues are $100.
What will my annual dues be used for? Member dues will provide the financial stability for AAHSR to be able to negotiate with venues and sign contracts to ensure that the conference takes place. Your dues will primarily be used toward supporting the planning costs of the conference (e.g., venue-related costs; maintaining the abstract submission software and conference website; essential staff support for the planning process).
What will I get as a member of AAHSR? As a member of AAHSR, you will receive several benefits:
- Discounted registration to the annual conference, beginning in 2027. The amount of your discount will equal your annual member dues.
- Eligibility to serve on committees or hold an officer position.
- Access to member-only content (e.g., a newsletter, emails about job postings, archived webinars) and member-exclusive events (e.g., member-only happy hour at the 2027 conference).
What does it mean to be a Charter Member? It means you joined AAHSR in 2026 as part of its initial membership drive, and instead of a 12-month membership, your membership will be active from the time you sign up through December 31, 2027. Your conference registration discount will be active for the 2027 AHSR Conference in St. Louis. We’ll find ways to acknowledge your early commitment (e.g., designating it on your conference badge, including your name in the conference program as a Charter Member).
Count me in! Where do I sign up? Visit the AAHSR membership application, hosted by the University of Utah, to join AAHSR!