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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

145 works between 2013 and 2025

41 - 60 of 145 works

2023

Journal Article

Cryptocurrency trading and its associations with gambling and mental health: a scoping review

Johnson, Benjamin, Co, Steven, Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C.W., Stjepanović, Daniel, Leung, Janni, Saunders, John B. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2023). Cryptocurrency trading and its associations with gambling and mental health: a scoping review. Addictive Behaviors, 136 107504, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107504

Cryptocurrency trading and its associations with gambling and mental health: a scoping review

2023

Other Outputs

Dataset for the cryptomarket paper

Chan, Gary and Lim, Carmen (2023). Dataset for the cryptomarket paper. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/8c2c84e

Dataset for the cryptomarket paper

2022

Journal Article

Non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with and without other illicit substance use: Trends from two repeated nationally representative Australian surveys

Leung, Janni, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Vu, Giang, Lim, Carmen, Anandan, Aathavan Shanmuga, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason and Chan, Gary (2022). Non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with and without other illicit substance use: Trends from two repeated nationally representative Australian surveys. Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports, 5 100118, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100118

Non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioids with and without other illicit substance use: Trends from two repeated nationally representative Australian surveys

2022

Journal Article

Trends and socio-demographic differences of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada

Lim, Carmen C. W., Chan, Gary C. K., Wadsworth, Elle, Stjepanović, Daniel, Chiu, Vivian, Chung, Jack Y. C., Sun, Tianze, Connor, Jason, Leung, Janni, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne and Hammond, David (2022). Trends and socio-demographic differences of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (21) 14394, 14394. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114394

Trends and socio-demographic differences of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada

2022

Conference Publication

Adolescent exposure to advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet

Leung, Janni, Foo, Shaun, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Lim, Carmen C. W., Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Gouda, Hebe and Sebayang, Susy (2022). Adolescent exposure to advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Adolescent exposure to advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet

2022

Conference Publication

A systematic review of the relationship between alcohol-related media on social networking sites and alcohol use

Cheng, Brandon, Lim, Carmen C. W., Rutherford, Brienna N., Huang, Sandy, Ashley, Daniel P., Chung, Jack, Chan, Gary C. K., Coates, Jason M., Gullo, Matthew J. and Connor, Jason P. (2022). A systematic review of the relationship between alcohol-related media on social networking sites and alcohol use. APSAD 2022 Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 9–12 October 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

A systematic review of the relationship between alcohol-related media on social networking sites and alcohol use

2022

Conference Publication

Perceived loneliness, peer and parental relationship with smoking: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Lim, Carmen C. W., Sebayang, Susy, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Gouda, Hebe and Leung, Janni (2022). Perceived loneliness, peer and parental relationship with smoking: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Perceived loneliness, peer and parental relationship with smoking: A cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia

2022

Conference Publication

Does second-hand smoking mass-media campaign increase public awareness and reduce second-hand smoke exposure? A systematic review

Lim, Carmen C. W., McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Cheng, Brandon, Sebayang, Susy, Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Maidin, Alimin, Ansariadi, Ansariadi, Gartner, Coral, Scheurer, Roman, Chan, Gary C. K., Gouda, Hebe and Leung, Janni (2022). Does second-hand smoking mass-media campaign increase public awareness and reduce second-hand smoke exposure? A systematic review. APSAD 2022 Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 9–12 October 2022. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Does second-hand smoking mass-media campaign increase public awareness and reduce second-hand smoke exposure? A systematic review

2022

Journal Article

#TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms

Rutherford, Brienna N., Lim, Carmen C. W., Johnson, Benjamin, Cheng, Brandon, Chung, Jack, Huang, Sandy, Sun, Tianze, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary C. K. (2022). #TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms. Addiction, 118 (2), 206-217. doi: 10.1111/add.16020

#TurntTrending: a systematic review of substance use portrayals on social media platforms

2022

Journal Article

Association of dietary patterns and food groups intake with multimorbidity: a prospective cohort study

Zhang, Yue, Chen, Hui, Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M., Lim, Carmen C.W., Mishra, Shiva Raj, Yuan, Changzheng and Xu, Xiaolin (2022). Association of dietary patterns and food groups intake with multimorbidity: a prospective cohort study. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 51, 359-366. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.07.019

Association of dietary patterns and food groups intake with multimorbidity: a prospective cohort study

2022

Journal Article

Association between socioeconomic status and health behaviour change before and after non-communicable disease diagnoses: a multicohort study

Wang, Danyang, Dai, Xiaochen, Mishra, Shiva Raj, Lim, Carmen C W., Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M., Gakidou, Emmanuela and Xu, Xiaolin (2022). Association between socioeconomic status and health behaviour change before and after non-communicable disease diagnoses: a multicohort study. The Lancet Public Health, 7 (8), e670-e682. doi: 10.1016/s2468-2667(22)00157-8

Association between socioeconomic status and health behaviour change before and after non-communicable disease diagnoses: a multicohort study

2022

Journal Article

Perceived loneliness, peer, and parental relationship with smoking: a cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Lim, Carmen, Sebayang, Susy, Fausiah, Fitri, Gouda, Hebe and Leung, Janni (2022). Perceived loneliness, peer, and parental relationship with smoking: a cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 34 (8), 770-777. doi: 10.1177/10105395221115220

Perceived loneliness, peer, and parental relationship with smoking: a cross-sectional analysis of adolescents across South-East Asia

2022

Journal Article

Getting high for likes: exploring cannabis‐related content on TikTok

Rutherford, Brienna N., Sun, Tianze, Johnson, Benjamin, Co, Steven, Lim, Tong Liang, Lim, Carmen C. W., Chiu, Vivian, Leung, Janni, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2022). Getting high for likes: exploring cannabis‐related content on TikTok. Drug and Alcohol Review, 41 (5), 1119-1125. doi: 10.1111/dar.13433

Getting high for likes: exploring cannabis‐related content on TikTok

2022

Conference Publication

Patterns of tobacco and cannabis use in Australia: a latent class analysis and health-related correlates

Lim, Carmen C. W., Leung, Janni, Gravely, Shannon, Gartner, Coral, Chiu, Vivian, Sun, Tianze, Chung, Jack, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Connor, Jason, Scheurer, Roman, Hall, Wayne and Chan, Gary (2022). Patterns of tobacco and cannabis use in Australia: a latent class analysis and health-related correlates. The College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Minneapolis, MN USA, 11-15 June 2022.

Patterns of tobacco and cannabis use in Australia: a latent class analysis and health-related correlates

2022

Journal Article

Causal inference with observational data in addiction research

Chan, Gary C. K., Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne and Leung, Janni (2022). Causal inference with observational data in addiction research. Addiction, 117 (10), 2736-2744. doi: 10.1111/add.15972

Causal inference with observational data in addiction research

2022

Journal Article

Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study

Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen C.W., Chiu, Vivian, Chung, Jack, Mekonen, Tesfa, Dawson, Danielle, Hall, Wayne D. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2022). Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 15 100436, 100436. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100436

Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study

2022

Journal Article

Did the under‐reporting of meth/amphetamine use increase in a general population survey in Australia as negative media coverage increased?

Chan, Gary, Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen, Stjepanović, Daniel, Rutherford, Brienna, Johnson, Benjamin, Hall, Wayne and Leung, Janni (2022). Did the under‐reporting of meth/amphetamine use increase in a general population survey in Australia as negative media coverage increased?. Addiction, 117 (6), 1787-1793. doi: 10.1111/add.15783

Did the under‐reporting of meth/amphetamine use increase in a general population survey in Australia as negative media coverage increased?

2022

Journal Article

Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population

Leung, Janni, Gravely, Shannon, Lim, Carmen, Hall, Wayne and Chan, Gary (2022). Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population. Addiction, 117 (10), 2730-2735. doi: 10.1111/add.15951

Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population

2022

Journal Article

Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries

Chan, Gary C. K., Gartner, Coral, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason, Stjepanović, Daniel and Leung, Janni (2022). Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries. Addiction, 117 (8), 1-10. doi: 10.1111/add.15892

Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries

2022

Journal Article

Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C.W., Rutherford, Brienna N., Johnson, Benjamin, Leung, Janni, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D., Connor, Jason P. and Chan, C. K. Gary (2022). Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia. Addictive Behaviors, 127 107217, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107217

Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia

Funding

Current funding

  • 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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

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