Research
Addressing substance use and health inequities
The Mattingly Lab focuses on investigating the psychosocial, policy, and structural factors that shape substance use behaviors and contribute to health inequities, with particular attention to youth, adults, and historically marginalized populations in the United States. Our expertise in social epidemiology enables us to explore the social factors that drive substance use, misuse, and addiction. Guided by the socioecological model, our research aims to inform evidence-based policies and interventions across multiple environmental levels, reducing inequities in substance use and addiction and promoting healthier, more equitable outcomes for diverse communities.
Investigating psychosocial determinants of substance use outcomes
We examine how exposures such as interpersonal discrimination and police violence affect individual-level substance use behaviors, including intensity, frequency, initiation, progression, cessation, and treatment. Additionally, we explore how these factors interact with chronic stress and mood and anxiety disorders to exacerbate health behaviors and contribute to health inequities.
Evaluating the health equity impact of the drug use policy landscape
We examine how exposures such as interpersonal discrimination and police violence affect individual-level substance use behaviors, including intensity, frequency, initiation, progression, cessation, and treatment. Additionally, we explore how these factors interact with chronic stress and mood and anxiety disorders to exacerbate health behaviors and contribute to health inequities.
Exploring structural risk factors shaping substance use and health inequities
We aim to explore macro-level factors, such as systemic racism, the criminal legal system, and neighborhood or retail environments, that shape individuals’ life conditions and opportunities, influencing their behavioral, mental, and physical health outcomes, as well as health inequities. Additionally, we seek to examine how these structural factors interact with individual-level influences to impact problematic substance use behaviors.
Leveraging descriptive epidemiology to inform future research initiatives
We identify patterns in social determinants of health and substance use across person, place, and time. This approach offers the scientific community valuable, up-to-date insights that lay the foundation for future analytical research.
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