Publishing addiction science
The Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies (CAS) was a pioneer in publishing both scholarly and lay literature related to the use and misuse of alcohol. The home of the oldest substance-related journal published in the United States, established in 1940 as the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, now called the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the Center also published books, bibliographies, pamphlets, fact sheets, posters, and more.
A large number of books and other publications were published directly by the Publication Division of the Center of Alcohol Studies, or by affiliate publishing institutions, including the world's most frequently cited book on the topic of alcoholism and substance use, The disease concept of alcoholism written by E. M. Jellinek (1960).
Spearheaded by Mark Keller, the Publication Division was a trailblazer in collecting, organizing, and disseminating all kinds of literature related to alcohol studies. Publication catalogs in the Digital Alcohol Studies Collection demonstrate the breadth of the Center’s activity, including academic and "non-technical" or "popular" publications.
- Browse available Publication catalogs in the Digital Alcohol Studies Collection (1956-1992)
Diverse topics, authors, style, format, and target audiences
Lay Supplements
The Lay Supplements series consists of fourteen standalone pamphlets of 10-25 pages on fourteen distinct topics. Launched in 1941, titles 1-12 were not published in order during 1941-1944. However, they were incredibly popular. The first twelve titles were printed a total of 101 times. Lay Supplement 10, The drinker and the drunkard, was the most popular with 12 editions.
There is no author attribution on the title page, however, the first 12 of the series were attributed to E. M. Jellinek by the CAAAL bibliographers in the first published bibliography of E. M. Jellinek in 1966. The last two Lay Supplements were published in 1955, authored by Mark Keller.
The original plan, according to Jellinek, was to provide “a suitable reading list of reliable works for those who are interested in studying the subject beyond the scope of the Supplements.”
Some of the Supplements were updated and also republished in other formats, such as pamphlets. Republished titles in the series contained minor updates to the “selected reading” lists on the back covers. Listed in the Publications catalogs over the years, titles in the Lay Supplements were available for purchase from the Publications Division of the Center.
The Lay Supplements were bound as a single volume, which was assigned a Library of Congress call number (RC565.Q3), as shown on the title’s spine.
Lay Supplement No. 1
A signed copy of the first publication of the series, written by E. M. Jellinek, addressed to ”Bunky, in deep admiration" (”Bunky" was Jellinek’s nickname).
Monograph Series
The Monograph Series was published by the Publication Division of the Center of Alcohol Studies at Yale and Rutgers under the editorship of Mark Keller, long-time editor at the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Most of these books were distributed by College & University Press, New Haven, CT.
The books presented findings from alcohol-related research, primarily conducted at Rutgers. Known for their distinctive cover designs, the monographs became staples in many substance use and addiction research libraries. Titles in the series were listed on the back cover of each volume. Some of the monographs were originally published as articles in the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol or developed as instructional materials for the Summer School of Alcohol Studies.
Several volumes have since been digitized by the Center of Alcohol Studies Library, while others are available through the Internet Archive or HathiTrust.
- Visit the page of the Monograph Series in the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives to see what items are available online
Cover art from the Monograph Series
Alcohol Bibliographies
Through its extensive work in reviewing, abstracting, and indexing literature in the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, the Center of Alcohol Studies and its library became a leading resource for alcohol-related bibliographies. Notable early efforts include the Bibliography on Alcohol Problems compiled by Mark Keller and Vera Efron in 1955, the three volumes of the International Bibliography of Studies on Alcohol, edited by Mark Keller, and Alcohol Education Materials edited by Gail Milgram.
A major archival resource, the Raymond G. McCarthy Memorial Collection at the Rutgers Center of Alcohol Studies Library includes three volumes of cumulative bibliographies in three volumes of its inventory: Section A (ca. 1935-1950), Section B (1951-1965), and Section C (1966-1976). The collection originated from an idea by Keller and Selden D. Bacon, then editor of QJSA and director of the Center, respectively. They envisioned a repository of full-text originals of all works abstracted and indexed in CAAAL and QJSA, naming it in honor of Raymond G. McCarthy, longtime director of the Summer School of Alcohol Studies.
In addition, the library also compiled and distributed the Center of Alcohol Studies Bibliographies. Updated annually, these were extensive printed lists of references to the international scientific literature on specific alcohol subjects covering English language journal articles, books, technical reports, dissertations, and conference proceedings. The bibliographies were specialized by recent topics in alcohol studies, such as Alcohol, Drinking & Alcoholism, Alcoholism Treatment, Medical Complications, Psychological Aspects, Social Aspects, Specific Populations, and more.
Bibliographies were promoted to SSAS alumni in the Alumni News with other publications
Alcoholism Treatment Digest
The Alcoholism Treatment Digest was a pioneering periodical published from 1950 to 1973 at the Center of Alcohol Studies (CAS). Led by founding editor Mark Keller, the editorial department of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol / Journal of Studies on Alcohol curated and summarized recent research articles for each issue. Initially produced at Yale University and later at Rutgers following CAS’s relocation in 1962, the Digest reflected the Center’s commitment to accessible and practical alcohol research.
Issued five times a year (February, April, June, October, and December), each edition highlighted three to five emerging topics relevant to medical and healthcare professionals in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. The content was formatted for republication with proper attribution, and the issues were mimeographed for wide distribution.
Many of these reviews were simultaneously published in the Connecticut Review on Alcoholismunder the identical subtitle, Alcoholism Treatment Digest, every other month. Early issues did not credit individual authors; by June 1964, both publications began listing contributors.
Front page: The Connecticut Review on Alcoholism
The front page of the October 1971 issue of the Connecticut Review on Alcoholism. Every other issue of this monthly periodical published content from the Alcoholism Treatment Digest prepared by the staff of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol.
From the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives
- Visit the Publications page of the Digital Alcohol Studies Archives
- Browse available Publication catalogs in the Digital Alcohol Studies Collection (1956-1992)
- Read more about the Alcoholism Treatment Digest, browse copies available only from Rutgers University Libraries
- Read the full text of The disease concept of alcoholism, by E. M. Jellinek
- Read more about the Classics of alcohol literature
- Browse related items in RUcore