Brian J. Fairman

Assistant Professor

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

faculty

Epidemiology, College of Public Health

14 h-index 35 pubs 838 cited

Research Areas

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research Smoking Behavior and Cessation Health disparities and outcomes Mental Health Research Topics Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes COVID-19 and Mental Health Behavioral and Psychological Studies

Links

ORCID Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

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OverviewAI-generated summary

Dr. Brian J. Fairman's research investigates the epidemiology of substance use, with a particular focus on the co-use of cannabis and tobacco, including blunt smoking practices, initiation pathways, and associated health consequences. He has utilized national survey data, such as the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), to examine longitudinal trends, risk factors, and disparities in substance use and mental health outcomes. His work also explores the influence of state policies and neighborhood contexts on health behaviors.

Dr. Fairman has led and contributed to funded research projects examining cigar product features, nicotine dependence, and the accessibility of telehealth services for behavioral health. He collaborates with researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including Jure Baloh, George Pro, Ping-Ching Hsu, and Shelbie Stahr. His scholarly contributions are reflected in a publication record of 35 articles, with an h-index of 14 and over 800 citations.

Research Overview

Dr. Brian J. Fairman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. His research focuses on the epidemiology of substance use, particularly cannabis and tobacco co-use, with an emphasis on blunt smoking, initiation pathways, and health consequences. He has published extensively using national survey data (e.g., PATH, NSDUH) to examine longitudinal trends, risk factors, and disparities in substance use and mental health outcomes. His work also explores the intersection of state policies, neighborhood context, and health behaviors. Dr. Fairman has led and contributed to federally and institutionally funded studies, including projects on cigar product features, nicotine dependence, and telehealth access in behavioral health services.

Metrics

h-index: 14
Publications: 35
Citations: 838

Selected Publications

Perceived Tobacco Accessibility and Cigar Initiation: Exploring Racial and Ethnic Differences (2025) DOI
Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use and Cannabis Dependence: A Survey of US Adults in Legal Recreational Cannabis Markets (2025) DOI
Blunt Smoking Trends in the United States: Findings From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2004-2021 (2025) DOI
Cigarillo Purchasing and Pack Sizes by Their Use as Blunts (2024) DOI
A multilevel analysis of changing telehealth availability in opioid use disorder treatment settings: Conditional effects of rurality, the number and types of medication for opioid use disorder available, and time, US, 2016–2023 (2024) DOI
Cigarette smoking and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African and European American men (2024) DOI
Abstract B096: Cigarette smoking and prostate cancer aggressiveness among African and European American men (2023) DOI
Temporal Trends in Telehealth Availability in Mental Health Treatment Settings: Differences in Growth by State Rurality, 2015–2020 (2023) DOI
Blunt and non-blunt cannabis use associated with cigarette, e-cigarette, and cigar initiation: Findings from the population assessment of tobacco and health (PATH) study (2023) DOI
Nicotine Dependence among Current Cigarette Smokers Who Use E-Cigarettes and Cannabis (2023) DOI
Impact of COVID-19 on the characteristics of opioid overdose deaths in Arkansas (2022) DOI

Research Interests

Dr. Brian J. Fairman’s research focuses on substance use epidemiology, with particular emphasis on the co-use of cannabis and tobacco products. His work examines behavioral patterns, health consequences, and policy influences surrounding blunt smoking—a common method of cannabis use involving hollowed-out cigars. He leverages nationally representative longitudinal data, such as the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), to investigate how social, environmental, and regulatory factors shape substance use behaviors across the life course. A key theme of Dr. Fairman’s research is the intersection of cannabis and tobacco use, including the role of flavored products, initiation pathways, and associations with nicotine dependence and mental health outcomes. He also studies disparities in access to behavioral health services, including telehealth, particularly in rural and underserved communities. His research aims to inform prevention strategies, policy development, and treatment approaches. Dr. Fairman has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on federally and institutionally funded projects and regularly collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across public health, behavioral science, and health services research.

Grants & Funding

Cigar Product Features and Blunt Use Center for the Study of Tobacco (CST), UAMS Principal Investigator
Racial Differences in Nicotine Dependence Indicators Among Adolescent Electronic Cigarette Users Arkansas Center for Health Disparities (ARCHD), UAMS Principal Investigator
Facility- and State-Level Characteristics Associated with Telehealth Adoption and Service Integration in Specialty Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Facilities in the US HRSA / Telehealth Focused Rural Health Research Center Co-Investigator