Overview
Background
Carmen is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. Her research seeks to understand why young people start using substances and develop strategies that advance public health.
Her work spans four key areas:
(1) Youth vaping and social media, where she examines trends and the influence of social media on youth vaping; (2) Cannabis and regulation, investigating industry marketing practices and compliance with regulatory guidelines; (3) International comparisons and equity - developing culturally appropriate prevention and harm reduction strategies to address substance use in diverse contexts; (4) Substance use and mental health - exploring the links between substance use and mental health conditions.
Through her research, Carmen aims to generate evidence that informs policy, guides prevention and harm reduction efforts, and support healthier futures for young people. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in addiction and mental health (Google Scholar: >10K citations, h-index = 43, 31% output in top 10% citation percentile).
Carmen holds qualifications in biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. She has experiences in teaching and mentoring students from diverse demographic and cultural background, and welcomes self-driven, curious students with interest in public health, psychology, epidemiology, or statistics to join her team.
Availability
- Dr Carmen Lim is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Psychology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Substance Use
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Harm reduction
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Mental health
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Digital advertising
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Biostatistics
Research impacts
My research focuses on why young people start using substances such as e-cigarettes, cannabis, and alcohol, and how we can reduce the harms that follow. By combining survey data with innovative tools like social media analysis, I provide early evidence that helps communities, schools, and policymakers respond to emerging challenges.
This work has informed national discussions and inquiries on youth vaping, contributed to World Health Organization reports, and supported the development of harm reduction program internationally.
Beyond academia, I share findings widely through media outlets like The Conversation and national radio interviews, making evidence accessible to the broader community and ensuring it reaches those who can use it to drive change.
Works
Search Professor Carmen Lim’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Knowledge and concerns about smoking-related health risks: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 International Tobacco Control Japan and Korea Surveys
Sun, Tianze, Chan, Gary, Gravely, Shannon, Quah, Anne C. K., Meng, Gang, Fong, Geoffrey T., Xu, Steve S., Katanoda, Kota, Seo, Hong Gwan, Tabuchi, Takahiro, Yoshimi, Itsuro, Kang, Chang Bum, Vu, Giang, Cho, Ara, Lim, Carmen, Togawa, Kayo, Lim, Sujin, Lee, Sungkyu, Cho, Sung-Il, Kim, Gil-Yong and Leung, Janni (2025). Knowledge and concerns about smoking-related health risks: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2021 International Tobacco Control Japan and Korea Surveys. Drug and Alcohol Review dar.70043. doi: 10.1111/dar.70043
2025
Journal Article
Association of life-course socioeconomic status with lifestyle changes after diagnosis of non-communicable disease: a prospective study using data from European, United States, and Chinese cohorts
Zhou, Yaguan, Kivimäki, Mika, Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M., Lim, Carmen C. W., Wang, Danyang, Dai, Xiaochen, Zhang, Yue, Cheng, Yangyang and Xu, Xiaolin (2025). Association of life-course socioeconomic status with lifestyle changes after diagnosis of non-communicable disease: a prospective study using data from European, United States, and Chinese cohorts. American Journal of Epidemiology kwaf178. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaf178
2025
Journal Article
Co‐Designing AI‐Generated Vaping Awareness Materials With Adolescents and Young Adults: A Qualitative Study
Sun, Tianze, Chan, Gary Chung Kai, Stjepanović, Daniel, Yimer, Tesfa, Vu, Giang Thu, Lim, Carmen, McClure‐Thomas, Caitlin, Russel, Charlotte, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Hides, Leanne, Hammond, David, Dietrich, Timo, Erku, Daniel, Johnson, Benjamin and Leung, Janni (2025). Co‐Designing AI‐Generated Vaping Awareness Materials With Adolescents and Young Adults: A Qualitative Study. Drug and Alcohol Review dar.70022, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/dar.70022
2025
Journal Article
Cannabis vaping in youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors in adolescents and young adults
Chung, Jack, Lim, Carmen C.W., Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel, Chiu, Vivian, Hides, Leanne, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne and Chan, Gary C.K. (2025). Cannabis vaping in youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors in adolescents and young adults. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs jsad.24-00464. doi: 10.15288/jsad.24-00464
2025
Journal Article
Adolescent Cannabis Vaping Trends (2021–2023): Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and synthetic cannabinoids
Chung, Jack, Lim, Carmen C.W., Stjepanović, Daniel, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2025). Adolescent Cannabis Vaping Trends (2021–2023): Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, and synthetic cannabinoids. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 107655, 107655. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2025.107655
2025
Journal Article
Is Delta-8-THC use associated with state-level cannabis policies? A content analysis from different jurisdictions in the United States
Dawson, Danielle, York, Ashley, Su, Fang-Yi, Hall, Wayne, Lim, Carmen and Stjepanović, Daniel (2025). Is Delta-8-THC use associated with state-level cannabis policies? A content analysis from different jurisdictions in the United States. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 86 (4), 515-520. doi: 10.15288/jsad.24-00297
2025
Journal Article
Cigfluencers: how celebrities and influencers are glamourising smoking again
Lim, Carmen C. W., Trigg, Joshua and Sun, Tianze (2025). Cigfluencers: how celebrities and influencers are glamourising smoking again. Tobacco Control 59240, 1-2. doi: 10.1136/tc-2024-059240
2025
Journal Article
Parity, socioeconomic status, and depression in women's mid-to-late life: Evidence from two prospective cohorts
Zhang, Yue, Lim, Carmen C. W., Wang, Yu, Zhou, Yaguan and Xu, Xiaolin (2025). Parity, socioeconomic status, and depression in women's mid-to-late life: Evidence from two prospective cohorts. Journal of Affective Disorders, 378, 320-328. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.03.009
2025
Journal Article
National e-cigarette monitoring and evidence consortium: supporting informed research, policy and practice in Australia
Banks, Emily, Scollo, Michelle, Gartner, Coral, Freeman, Becky, Brown, Sinan, Campbell, Sai, Yazidjoglou, Amelia, Bittoun, Renee, Brooks, Alecia, Chan, Gary, Collins, Louisa, Conway, Mike, Dean, Emma, Dessaix, Anita, Dono, Jo, Gazey, Angela, Greenberg, Tracey, Greenhalgh, Elizabeth, Gupta, Deepali, Havard, Alys, Heris, Christina, Hunter, Laura, Jancey, Jonine, Jongenelis, Michelle, Khanlari, Sarah, Larcombe, Alexander, Lim, Carmen, Lizama, Natalia, Maddox, Raglan ... Yoong, Serene (2025). National e-cigarette monitoring and evidence consortium: supporting informed research, policy and practice in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 49 (2) 100233, 100233. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100233
2025
Journal Article
Examining the relationship of cannabis use patterns, mental health, and sociodemographic factors: a focus on cannabis vaping, smoking and dual-use
Chung, Jack Y. C., Lim, Carmen C. W., Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary C. K. (2025). Examining the relationship of cannabis use patterns, mental health, and sociodemographic factors: a focus on cannabis vaping, smoking and dual-use. Addictive Behaviors, 163 108263. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108263
2025
Journal Article
Research Letter: Unveiling the boundaries: analysing advertising breaches in the promotion of medicinal cannabis in Australia
Lim, Carmen C. W., Lawrie, Eloise, Wilson, Hannah, Hall, Wayne, Dawson, Danielle and Yimer, Tesfa M. (2025). Research Letter: Unveiling the boundaries: analysing advertising breaches in the promotion of medicinal cannabis in Australia. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry, 59 (2), 48674241307158-186. doi: 10.1177/00048674241307158
2024
Journal Article
The relationship between young people social media use and alcohol use: a prospective cohort study
Cheng, Brandon, Lim, Carmen C.W., Teixeira, Juliane Pariz, Gullo, Matthew J., Chan, Gary C. K. and Connor, Jason P. (2024). The relationship between young people social media use and alcohol use: a prospective cohort study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 265 112478, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112478
2024
Journal Article
Bidirectional associations between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depression and mediation of lifestyles: a multicohort study
Zhou, Yaguan, Kivimäki, Mika, Lim, Carmen C.W., Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M., Qi, Shige, Wu, Xifeng and Xu, Xiaolin (2024). Bidirectional associations between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depression and mediation of lifestyles: a multicohort study. JACC: Asia, 4 (9), 657-671. doi: 10.1016/j.jacasi.2024.06.004
2024
Journal Article
Swipe to inhale: tobacco-related content on social media and susceptibility to tobacco use
Lim, Carmen C. W., Sun, Tianze, Hall, Wayne, Gartner, Coral and Connor, Jason P. (2024). Swipe to inhale: tobacco-related content on social media and susceptibility to tobacco use. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 67 (6), 968-972. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2024.07.020
2024
Journal Article
Effect of tobacco and e-cigarette-related social media content on youth
Ashley, Daniel P., Rutherford, Brienna N., Lim, Carmen C.W., Cheng, Brandon, Sun, Tianze, Vu, Gigi, Johnson, Benjamin, Chung, Jack, Huang, Sandy, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2024). Effect of tobacco and e-cigarette-related social media content on youth. Journal of the National Medical Association, 116 (4), 420-420. doi: 10.1016/j.jnma.2024.07.023
2024
Journal Article
The effect of tobacco tax increase on price-minimizing tobacco purchasing behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cho, Ara, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Chan, Gary and Gartner, Coral (2024). The effect of tobacco tax increase on price-minimizing tobacco purchasing behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 119 (11), 1923-1936. doi: 10.1111/add.16618
2024
Journal Article
Preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia—analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Vu, Giang, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Bao, Yangping, Tran, Lucy, Santo, Thomas, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Chan, Gary Chung Kai and Sebayang, Susy K. (2024). Preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia—analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. International Journal of Public Health, 69 1606446, 1606446. doi: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606446
2024
Journal Article
The underbelly of E-cigarette advertising: regulating online markets on social media platforms
Lim, Carmen C. W., Sun, Tianze, Vu, Giang, Chan, Gary C. K. and Leung, Janni (2024). The underbelly of E-cigarette advertising: regulating online markets on social media platforms. Harm Reduction Journal, 21 (1) 105, 105. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-01027-5
2024
Journal Article
Correction to: Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec, sbad168, 2023)
McGrath, John J., Lim, Carmen C. W. and Saha, Sukanta (2024). Correction to: Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec, sbad168, 2023). Schizophrenia Bulletin, 50 (3), 720-721. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbae027
2024
Journal Article
Regional and country prevalence estimates of unsafe sex among adolescents in 68 low-income and middle-income countries
Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen, Belete, Habte, Mcclure-Thomas, Caitlin, Foo, Shaun and Chan, Gary Chung Kai (2024). Regional and country prevalence estimates of unsafe sex among adolescents in 68 low-income and middle-income countries. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53 (6), 2337-2346. doi: 10.1007/s10508-024-02861-1
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Carmen Lim is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Social Media Advertising on Youth Perceptions of Vaping
This PhD project aims to assess how targeted advertising on social media platforms affects youth perceptions of vaping. A mixed-methods approach could be used to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Digital Deterrence: Exploring innovative social media interventions to curtail youth vaping
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Professor Coral Gartner
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Doctor Philosophy
Population-level of substance use and health outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides, Associate Professor Janni Leung
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Doctor Philosophy
The influence of social media upon alcohol use: An investigation of effects and mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Jason Connor
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Carmen Lim's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: