Alcohol and Drugs History Society
The Alcohol and Drugs History Society is an international scholarly organization devoted to the history of alcohol, drugs, and related systems of regulation, production, consumption, and culture.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Alcohol and Drugs History Society (ADHS) is a scholarly organization for researchers examining the histories of alcohol and a broad range of drugs. Its subject matter includes illegal, regulated, and unregulated substances, with examples ranging from opium and alcohol to coffee. The society brings together historians and scholars from adjacent disciplines whose work explores how substances have been produced, traded, consumed, regulated, medicalized, criminalized, commercialized, and represented in society. ADHS was organized in 2004 as the successor to the Alcohol and Temperance History Group, an organization that had operated for approximately 25 years with a narrower focus on alcohol and temperance. The transition broadened the society's remit from temperance and alcohol history to a more inclusive history of drugs and psychoactive commodities. Ian R. Tyrrell, who had been the final president of the earlier group, became the first president of ADHS. Subsequent presidents identified in the society's historical record include W. J. Rorabaugh, David T. Courtwright, and Joseph Spillane. A central part of the society's scholarly activity is its sponsorship of The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Journal, commonly abbreviated as SHAD. The journal publishes research and reviews concerning the social, cultural, political, economic, and intellectual histories of alcohol and drugs. It appears in print and electronic formats and is issued twice each year. From 2019, publication was handled by the University of Chicago Press. The journal has used an editorial structure involving scholars from universities in North America, Europe, and Australia, reflecting the society's international orientation. ADHS also supports academic exchange through conferences and organized sessions at the annual meetings of the American Historical Association, with which it is affiliated. Its international meetings have been hosted by universities in Canada, Scotland, the United States, and the Netherlands. These events provide forums for research on topics such as prohibition, temperance, addiction, colonial and global drug networks, public health, pharmaceutical history, policing, drug policy, and the cultural meanings attached to intoxicating substances. The society is best understood as a scholarly association rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand. Its principal offerings are membership and intellectual community, the SHAD journal, conference programming, and support for the dissemination of historical research. Publicly available reference material does not establish a precise headquarters, current president, membership total, budget, or current operating structure; those details should be verified against the organization's latest official materials.
History
The Alcohol and Drugs History Society emerged from the Alcohol and Temperance History Group, a scholarly organization that had focused primarily on alcohol and temperance for roughly a quarter-century. In 2004, the organization was reorganized under the ADHS name, reflecting a wider conception of its field. The new society addressed not only alcohol and temperance but also the histories of illegal, regulated, and unregulated drugs, as well as commodities and substances such as opium and coffee. Ian R. Tyrrell, the earlier group's last president, became ADHS's first president. The society's early leadership subsequently passed to W. J. Rorabaugh in 2006, David T. Courtwright in 2008, and Joseph Spillane in 2011. These scholars represented the field's broad geographic and institutional base, spanning universities in Australia and the United States. The leadership succession helped establish ADHS as a professional venue for historical research on substance use, drug policy, commerce, public health, and social regulation. Publishing has been a major component of the society's identity. ADHS sponsors The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Journal, a twice-yearly periodical issued in both print and electronic form. The journal's scope corresponds to the society's interdisciplinary mission, bringing historical analysis into conversation with social, cultural, political, medical, and economic approaches. In 2019, the journal began publication through the University of Chicago Press. Its editorial organization has included David Herzberg, Nancy Campbell, and Lucas Richert as co-editors, with earlier editorial roles held by Dan Malleck, Jim Mills, and W. Scott Haine, and review editing by James Nicholls and Alex Mold. ADHS has also developed through conferences and professional affiliations. It is affiliated with the American Historical Association and sponsors sessions at the AHA's January meetings. The society's international conferences have included a 2007 meeting hosted by the University of Guelph in Canada, a 2009 meeting at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, a 2011 meeting at the State University of New York at Buffalo, a 2015 meeting at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and a 2017 meeting hosted by Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Shanghai was identified as the host location for the planned 2019 meeting. Together, these activities position ADHS as a network for historical scholarship rather than a commercial product company. Its work connects specialists studying alcohol, narcotics, pharmaceuticals, stimulants, intoxicants, temperance movements, addiction concepts, and state and institutional responses to substance use. Current officers, membership arrangements, and post-2019 conference activity are not established by the supplied reference material and require confirmation from the official website.
- 2019
The journal moved to University of Chicago Press
[1]The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs began publication by the University of Chicago Press.
- 2017
International conference at Utrecht
[1]The society held an international conference at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
- 2011
Leadership transition to Joseph Spillane
[1]Joseph Spillane succeeded David T. Courtwright as president.
- 2009
Journal editorial board established
[1]An editorial board was created for the society's journal, bringing together prominent scholars in alcohol and drug history.
- 2007
First listed international conference
[1]The society held an international conference hosted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.
- 2006
Leadership transition to W. J. Rorabaugh
[1]W. J. Rorabaugh succeeded Ian R. Tyrrell as president.
- 2004
Formation of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society
[1]ADHS was organized as the successor to the Alcohol and Temperance History Group, broadening the field from alcohol and temperance history to the history of drugs and related substances.
Products and positioning
An international academic society specializing in interdisciplinary historical research on alcohol, drugs, temperance, addiction, regulation, and related social institutions.
Academic journal
The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs: An Interdisciplinary Journal
The society's principal publication is a twice-yearly academic journal covering the social, cultural, political, economic, medical, and intellectual histories of alcohol and drugs. It is distributed in print and electronic formats and publishes research articles, reviews, and related scholarly material. The journal reflects ADHS's broad approach to substances that may be illegal, regulated, or socially accepted.
Academic conference · 2007
ADHS international conferences
ADHS organizes or sponsors international scholarly meetings hosted by universities and research institutions. These conferences provide a venue for presenting research on alcohol, drugs, temperance, addiction, policy, public health, trade, and cultural history, while also supporting professional exchange among researchers from multiple countries.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017ADHS International Conference at Utrecht
Netherlands · International academic community
Utrecht University hosted an international meeting of the society.
Outcome. The conference reinforced ADHS's international and university-centered profile.
- 2015ADHS International Conference at Bowling Green
United States · International academic community
The society met at Bowling Green State University in Ohio for an international conference.
Outcome. The meeting provided another institutional setting for interdisciplinary alcohol and drug history research.
- 2011ADHS International Conference at SUNY Buffalo
United States · International academic community
An international ADHS conference was held at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Outcome. The event continued the society's program of international research conferences.
- 2009ADHS International Conference in Glasgow
United Kingdom · International academic community
The University of Strathclyde hosted the society's next reported international conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
Outcome. The conference expanded the society's European academic presence.
- 2007ADHS International Conference in Canada
Canada · International academic community
The society held an international conference hosted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, establishing a recurring pattern of university-based international meetings.
Outcome. The meeting supported scholarly exchange in the history of alcohol and drugs.
Brand decisions
2019
Journal publication moved to University of Chicago PressOtherBackground
The society's sponsored journal is a central channel for publishing scholarship in the field.
Action taken
Publication of The Social History of Alcohol and Drugs was transferred to the University of Chicago Press.
Aftermath
The journal continued in print and electronic formats under a major academic press.
2004
Expansion from temperance history to alcohol and drug historyStrategyBackground
The earlier Alcohol and Temperance History Group had a narrower thematic remit centered on alcohol and temperance.
Action taken
The organization was reorganized as the Alcohol and Drugs History Society, explicitly incorporating the histories of illegal, regulated, and unregulated drugs and related commodities.
Aftermath
The change established the broader interdisciplinary scope that defines ADHS.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/alcohol-and-drugs-history-society · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled