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Dr Carmen Lim
Dr

Carmen Lim

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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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Psychology, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Substance Use

  • Harm reduction

  • Mental health

  • Digital advertising

  • 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

160 works between 2013 and 2026

21 - 40 of 160 works

2025

Conference Publication

The bidirectional associations between tobacco-related content online and youth e-cigarette use: Results from a prospective cohort study, 2019-2021

Teo, Yin Mun, Gartner, Coral, Cho, Ara, Sun, Tianze and Lim, Carmen (2025). The bidirectional associations between tobacco-related content online and youth e-cigarette use: Results from a prospective cohort study, 2019-2021. HERAKLION: EUROPEAN PUBLISHING.

The bidirectional associations between tobacco-related content online and youth e-cigarette use: Results from a prospective cohort study, 2019-2021

2025

Conference Publication

Latent class analysis of people who vape e-cigarettes in Australia: An analysis of the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey

Lim, Carmen, Gartner, Coral, Teo, Yin Mun, Wong, Kwun Hung, Lai, Germaine and Cho, Ara (2025). Latent class analysis of people who vape e-cigarettes in Australia: An analysis of the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. HERAKLION: EUROPEAN PUBLISHING.

Latent class analysis of people who vape e-cigarettes in Australia: An analysis of the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey

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

The relationship between young people social media use and alcohol use: a prospective cohort study

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

Bidirectional associations between cardiometabolic multimorbidity and depression and mediation of lifestyles: a multicohort study

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

Swipe to inhale: tobacco-related content on social media and susceptibility to tobacco use

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

Effect of tobacco and e-cigarette-related social media content on youth

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

The effect of tobacco tax increase on price-minimizing tobacco purchasing behaviours: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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

Preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia—analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

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

The underbelly of E-cigarette advertising: regulating online markets on social media platforms

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

Correction to: Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis (Dec, sbad168, 2023)

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

Regional and country prevalence estimates of unsafe sex among adolescents in 68 low-income and middle-income countries

2024

Journal Article

A systematic review of second-hand smoking mass media campaigns (2002–2022)

Lim, Carmen C. W., Rutherford, Brienna, Gartner, Coral, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Foo, Shaun, Su, Fang-Yi, Scheurer, Roman, Sebayang, Susy, Chan, Gary, Stjepanović, Daniel, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea and Leung, Janni (2024). A systematic review of second-hand smoking mass media campaigns (2002–2022). BMC Public Health, 24 (1) 693, 693. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18222-5

A systematic review of second-hand smoking mass media campaigns (2002–2022)

2024

Conference Publication

Smartphone applications for tobacco cessation: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Bendotti, H., Meciar, I., Sun, T., Lawler, S., Lim, C., Kang, H., Morphett, K., Chan, G., Marshall, H. and Gartner, C. (2024). Smartphone applications for tobacco cessation: a systematic review and meta-analyses. TSANZSRS 2024 The Australia and New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting for Leaders in Lung Health and Respiratory Science, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 22-26 March 2024. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley & Sons.

Smartphone applications for tobacco cessation: a systematic review and meta-analyses

2024

Journal Article

Changes in patterns of youth multiple tobacco and/or e-cigarette product use in the US between 2014 and 2020: a multiple-group latent class analysis

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C W, Rutherford, Brienna N., Johnson, Benjamin, Connor, Jason, Gartner, Coral E, Hall, Wayne D, Leung, Janni and Chan, Gary (2024). Changes in patterns of youth multiple tobacco and/or e-cigarette product use in the US between 2014 and 2020: a multiple-group latent class analysis. Tobacco Control, 33 (1), 21-29. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2022-057266

Changes in patterns of youth multiple tobacco and/or e-cigarette product use in the US between 2014 and 2020: a multiple-group latent class analysis

2024

Other Outputs

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version)

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Farassania, Ghea, Lim, Carmen, Fausiah, Fitri, Su, Fang-Yi, Sebayang, Susy K., Nordhani, Mohammad and Leung, Janni (2024). Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version). Canberra, ACT, Australia:

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version)

2023

Journal Article

Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis

McGrath, John J., Lim, Carmen C. W. and Saha, Sukanta (2023). Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 50 (3), 1-6. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbad168

Cat ownership and schizophrenia-related disorders and psychotic-like experiences: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2023

Journal Article

Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes

Rutherford, Brienna N., Lim, Carmen C.W., Cheng, Brandon, Sun, Tianze, Vu, Giang T., Johnson, Benjamin, Ashley, Daniel Paul, Chung, Jack, Huang, Sandy, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2023). Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes. Addictive Behaviors, 147 107828, 107828. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107828

Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes

2023

Other Outputs

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Farassania, Ghea, Lim, Carmen, Fitri Fausiah, Su, Fang-Yi, Sebayang, Susy K., Nordhani, Mohammad and Leung, Janni (2023). Indonesia smoke-free toolkit. Canberra, ACT, Australia:

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit

2023

Journal Article

Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys

Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Foo, Shaun, Sebayang, Susy, Farassania, Ghea, Fausiah, Fitri, Gartner, Coral and Chan, Gary C. K. (2023). Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys. Journal of Adolescent Health, 73 (6), 1138-1144. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.019

Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys

2023

Other Outputs

Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence

Lim, Carmen (2023). Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence. PhD Thesis, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/65023a9

Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence

Funding

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Monitoring Australia's illicit tobacco and vaping product markets
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2028
    The feasibility, acceptability and impact of integrating an online pain management course into alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation services.
    NHMRC MRFF Alcohol and Other Drugs
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Unclouding the future: Igniting change with an AI-powered social media campaign against youth vaping
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Breaking the Cycle: Leveraging Social Media to Address the Public Health Threat of Youth Vaping
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Carmen Lim is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

  • 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

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Dr Carmen Lim's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au