The addictions field is characterised by tensions between groups, by entrenched relationships between some addiction-specific stakeholder groups and powerful political stakeholders, and by the dominance of some forms of evidence over other forms of knowledge. Science and scientists are mainly influential in policy terms only if their scientific findings ‘fit’ with the wider political and economic context.

Key words: decision-making, stakeholders, influence, addiction policy

Lead author(s): Thom

The way in which General practitioners’ view problem gambling is shaped by both the country-specific approaches to problems in general and the predominant welfare culture.

Key words: problem gambling, health professionals, views, welfare culture, professional approaches

Lead author(s): Egerer, Hellman

The media plays a crucial role in constructing popular narratives on addiction, which are also molded by country particularities such as the welfare regime, the most prominent addiction problem in the society, or the level of secularity.

Key words: addiction, media, cultural constructions

Lead author(s): Hellman

In recent decades, European countries have witnessed a process of withdrawing addictions from their political context in the media and public discourse. Social determinants of addictions were replaced by specific individual causes. Decreased authority of political and institutional actors made a room for individual experiences and experts representing mostly biomedical sciences.

Key words: addiction, public portrayal, media, individualization, knowledge sources

Lead author(s): Bujalski

Corporate actors use a wider variety of channels to engage with policy makers. Not all of these are openly acknowledged. Policy makers’ are not always aware of these channels with potentially serious consequences for evidence based policy making.

Key words: channels, political action, addictions, corporate actors

Lead author(s): Miller