Addiction‐related problems in Japan: A regional perspective
Japan's addiction landscape appears paradoxical. The lifetime use of illicit drugs is among the lowest in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, but harm from alcohol, tobacco, and gambling ranks among the world's highest. Historically, methamphetamine accounted for the majority of drug-related offenses, but the number of people who were apprehended for cannabis offenses in 2023 exceeded the number who were apprehended for stimulants for the first time since 1958. Nevertheless, the lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use among adults remains under ~3%. In contrast, heavy drinking among working-age men, decades of tobacco consumption, and rapid digitalization that has more recently led to a surge in online gambling and gaming disorder have imposed a substantial disease burden. The present review discusses Japan's epidemiology, social impact, policy changes, prevention, and treatment infrastructure of drug-related problems and the latest trends in addiction science and proposes ways to link policy and research. Japan's experience, balancing strict enforcement with health-centered care, may offer lessons for regions that have similar social contexts.
Authors
- Kazutaka Ikeda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9247-4593)
- Masako Iseki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8693-1900)
- Tetsuro Kikuchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3902-7302)
- Kenji Takeuchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6180-7663)
- Hiroshi Matsumoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9560-0030)
- Isa Tadashi
- Toshiya Murai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6550-8188)
- Kazuyuki Nakagome (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-1451)
- S. Ide
- Yoko Nishitani
- Michiko OHKURA
- Yuko Sekino
- Masabumi Minami
- Hitoshi Okamoto
- Masahiko Sumitani
- Toshihiko Matsumoto
- Atsumi Nitta
- Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Takeshi Honjo
- Hidehiko Takahashi
Institutions
- Hitotsubashi University (JP)
- Otsuka (Japan) (JP)
- Tokyo Medical and Dental University (JP)
- Kyushu University (JP)
- Fujita Health University (JP)
- Hokkaido Pharmaceutical University (JP)
- Kyoto University (JP)
- RIKEN Center for Brain Science (JP)
- Juntendo University (JP)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science (JP)
- National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (JP)
- University of Tokyo Hospital (JP)
- Japan Chemical Innovation and Inspection Institute (JP)
- Drug Discovery Laboratory (Norway) (NO)
- National Institute of Mental Health (JP)
- University of Toyama (JP)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University (JP)
- Chuo University (JP)
- The University of Osaka (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Addiction
- Published
- 2025-12-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70307
- Primary Topic
- Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science