Sam Margherio

Dr. Sam Margherio is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Virginia Tech, affiliated with the College of Science. Their work focuses on preventing risk-taking behaviors, particularly substance use, in teens with ADHD and related behavioral concerns through school-based interventions.

Research Interests:

• Developing cost-effective mental health interventions for adolescents in accessible settings
• Addressing equity and access in mental health services for neurodivergent youth
• Investigating intergenerational influences on substance use (e.g., parental drinking motives)
• Exploring ADHD symptom trajectories and their impact on adult outcomes
• Promoting STEM diversity through youth mentorship programs

Article Trends: Dr. Margherio's research spans ADHD interventions, substance use prevention, and mental health equity. Recent work emphasizes school-based programs, cost-effectiveness analysis, and intersectional approaches to mental health and justice systems. Their studies employ longitudinal designs, meta-analytic methods, and mixed-methods to address behavioral outcomes and policy implications.