Research
Addressing Substance Use and Health Disparities
The Mattingly Lab investigates the social and structural determinants that shape substance use behaviors and contribute to disparities in addiction, cancer risk, and cancer survivorship. Our research examines how psychosocial, environmental, and policy contexts influence patterns of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and other substance use across the life course. Grounded in social epidemiology and informed by the socioecological model, our work spans multiple levels of influence—from individual and interpersonal factors to community environments and public policy. We conduct both primary data collection and analyses of large population-based datasets to study emerging nicotine and substance use products, patterns of polysubstance use, and their health implications. By integrating substance use epidemiology with tobacco prevention, control, and regulatory science, our research aims to generate evidence that informs prevention strategies, public health policy, and interventions designed to reduce behavioral health disparities and improve population health.
Investigating Psychosocial Determinants of Substance Use and Cancer Outcomes
We examine how psychosocial factors influence substance use behaviors—including initiation, progression, intensity, cessation, and treatment—as well as cancer risk, detection, and survivorship. Our research also explores how factors such as chronic stress and mental health conditions shape health outcomes and contribute to disparities across populations.
Evaluating the Public Health Impact of the Drug Policy Landscape
We use advanced statistical and quasi-experimental methods to evaluate the impact of drug-related policies—including flavored tobacco restrictions, cannabis legalization or decriminalization, and harm-reduction strategies—on substance use patterns and related disparities across populations. Our work also examines the long-term implications of these policies for cancer risk and survivorship, particularly in the context of emerging tobacco and cannabis products.
Exploring Structural Risk Factors Shaping Substance Use, Cancer, and Health Disparities
We study structural determinants of health—including neighborhood conditions, retail environments, material deprivation, and social vulnerability—that shape opportunities, exposures, and health behaviors across populations. Our work examines how these area-level conditions interact with individual-level factors to influence substance use patterns, cancer risk, and survivorship.
Using Descriptive Epidemiology and Surveillance to Inform Future Research
We use descriptive epidemiology and population-level surveillance to monitor patterns and trends in substance use, social determinants of health, and cancer outcomes across person, place, and time. These efforts generate timely evidence that informs hypothesis generation, analytical research, and future public health initiatives.
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