Dr. Freedman's scientific interests include common, potentially modifiable, exposures of public health significance, including tobacco, alcohol, opioids, and cannabis. He tracks usage trends, examines disease risks and burden, investigates underlying mechanisms, and develops new resources. He is interested in the contemporary disease and mortality risks of established and emerging tobacco products and usage patterns, including non-daily and dual- and poly-use. He has conducted mechanistic studies examining physiologic and molecular effects and surveillance studies examining usage patterns. Additionally, he has used tools of descriptive epidemiology to track trends in cancer and other major causes of death in the United States and identify health disparities. Over the years, this work expanded to include deaths from alcohol, external causes, and COVID-19.