The ESSD was founded in 1990 as an association of European social scientists working on drug issues. Its principal aims are to promote social science approaches to drug research, particularly support qualitative and novel research methods, and encourage early career researchers.

The ESSD holds annual conferences to promote collaboration and cooperation among researchers working in the drugs field.

Since 1990, more than thirty annual conferences have been organised in over twenty countries, alternating between North, South, East and West Europe.