Brienna Rutherford

Dr. Brienna Rutherford is a researcher affiliated with the University of Queensland's School of Psychology and the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. Her work focuses on analyzing social media's impact on adolescent substance use behaviors through data mining and secondary survey analysis.

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Queensland

Her research explores how exposure to pro-substance content on platforms like TikTok influences substance initiation trends, with a focus on alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarettes. Publications highlight cross-sectional analyses of social media engagement, meta-analyses of vaping trends, and evaluations of tobacco cessation policies.

Recent work includes systematic reviews of alcohol advertising frequency (Drug and Alcohol Review, 2024), TikTok cannabis content accessibility (Addiction, 2022), and longitudinal analyses of psychedelic use patterns in Australia (Addictive Behaviors, 2022). She collaborates with public health experts like Gary Chan and Janni Leung.

As part of the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research, Rutherford contributes evidence-based insights into digital health interventions and substance use prevention strategies for adolescent populations.