Born and raised in West Virginia, Brittany T. Smith encountered the realities of the opioid epidemic firsthand - these experiences have profoundly shaped her research agenda and commitment to improving outcomes for children and families affected by substance use.
Smith’s research focuses on the impact of parental substance use and other adverse childhood experiences on child and adolescent mental and behavioral health. She is particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms through which parental substance use and the caregiver's history of childhood adversity influence their offspring. Her research has been disseminated at the state, national, and international levels through numerous publications and presentations.
Smith's work incorporates qualitative methodologies and community-engaged research approaches to center community members’ perspectives and inform intervention development. She collaborates closely with youth and parents to co-develop interventions aimed at improving coping, communication, and mental health outcomes in adolescents exposed to parental substance use.
West Virginia University | PhD, Public Health Science
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pediatrics | Postdoctoral fellowship specialized in effects of parental substance use on adolescents
