The Brazilian Association for the Study of Alcohol and other Drugs [Associação Brazileira de Estudos do Álcool e outras Drogas (ABEAD)] is a non‐profit entity with the purpose of encouraging discussions and exchanges on advances in the prevention, treatment and research of addition. It currently brings together 840 professionals from different areas, such as Psychiatry, Social Assistance, Nursing, Psychology, Sociology, Law, in addition to community leaders, thus having an innovative and dynamic character. It organises annual national congresses and regional meetings hosting foreign guests. The society has a style that is innovative and dynamic. After more than 20 years of work, ABEAD exerts significant national influence and its members have been invited to participate in the main decisions regarding issues linked to drug abuse in Brazil. Among other achievements, it has contributed to the proposals on prevention and treatment policies and the standardization of the different levels of assistance provided by public health‐care. In addition, its members have worked closely with the initiatives made by the government and medical entities in the search for a consensus on the treatment of the different types of dependence, including alcohol dependence and smoking. ABEAD's goal for the future is to broaden its participation in the national drug policy arena and to intensify the work with other medical organizations and with the community.