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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

154 works between 2013 and 2025

81 - 100 of 154 works

2021

Journal Article

Prevalence of adolescent cannabis vaping: a systematic review and meta-analysis of US and Canadian studies

Lim, Carmen C. W., Sun, Tianze, Leung, Janni, Chung, Jack Y. C., Gartner, Coral, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Chiu, Vivian, Stjepanovic, Daniel and Chan, Gary C. K. (2021). Prevalence of adolescent cannabis vaping: a systematic review and meta-analysis of US and Canadian studies. JAMA Pediatrics, 176 (1), 42-51. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.4102

Prevalence of adolescent cannabis vaping: a systematic review and meta-analysis of US and Canadian studies

2021

Conference Publication

Prevalence of illicit substances in personal vaporisers on online cryptomarkets

Lim, Miss Carmen, Leung, Janni, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Cheng, Brandon, Gartner, Coral, Scheurer, Roman and Chan, Gary (2021). Prevalence of illicit substances in personal vaporisers on online cryptomarkets. IEA World Congress of Epidemiology 2021, Virtual, 3-6 September 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.389

Prevalence of illicit substances in personal vaporisers on online cryptomarkets

2021

Journal Article

Content analysis of cannabis vaping videos on YouTube

Lim, Carmen C. W., Leung, Janni, Chung, Jack Yiu Chak, Sun, Tianze, Gartner, Coral, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Chiu, Vivian, Tisdale, Calvert, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary (2021). Content analysis of cannabis vaping videos on YouTube. Addiction, 116 (9), 2443-2453. doi: 10.1111/add.15424

Content analysis of cannabis vaping videos on YouTube

2021

Journal Article

Reactions on Twitter towards Australia's proposed import restriction on nicotine vaping products: a thematic analysis

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C.W., Gartner, Coral, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne D., Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary C.K. (2021). Reactions on Twitter towards Australia's proposed import restriction on nicotine vaping products: a thematic analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45 (6) 1753-6405.13143, 1-3. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13143

Reactions on Twitter towards Australia's proposed import restriction on nicotine vaping products: a thematic analysis

2021

Journal Article

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation

Chan, Gary C. K., Stjepanović, Daniel, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Shanmuga Anandan, Aathavan, Connor, Jason P., Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D. and Leung, Janni (2021). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. Addictive Behaviors, 119 106912, 106912. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106912

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and network meta-analysis of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation

2021

Conference Publication

Sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis: a randomised clinical trial

Scott, J. G., Baker, A., Lim, C., Foley, S., Dark, F., Gordon, A., Ward, D., Richardson, D., Bruxner, G., Beckmann, K., Hatherill, S., Stathis, S., Dixon, K., Ryan, A., McWhinney, B., Ungerer, J., Berk, M., Dean, O., Saha, S. and McGrath, J. J. (2021). Sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis: a randomised clinical trial. RANZCP 2021, Hobart, TAS Australia, 16-20 May 2021. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Sodium benzoate as an adjunctive treatment in early psychosis: a randomised clinical trial

2021

Journal Article

Co‐morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Saha, Sukanta, Lim, Carmen C. W., Cannon, Danielle L., Burton, Lucinda, Bremner, Monique, Cosgrove, Peter, Huo, Yan and McGrath, John (2021). Co‐morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 38 (3), 286-306. doi: 10.1002/da.23113

Co‐morbidity between mood and anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

2021

Journal Article

Personal correlates of support for medical and recreational cannabis legalization in Australia

Chiu, Vivian, Chan, Gary, Hall, Wayne, Hides, Leanne, Lim, Carmen and Leung, Janni (2021). Personal correlates of support for medical and recreational cannabis legalization in Australia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12 551661, 551661. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.551661

Personal correlates of support for medical and recreational cannabis legalization in Australia

2021

Journal Article

Anxiety and panic buying behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic—a qualitative analysis of toilet paper hoarding contents on Twitter

Leung, Janni, Chung, Jack Yiu Chak, Tisdale, Calvert, Chiu, Vivian, Lim, Carmen C. W. and Chan, Gary (2021). Anxiety and panic buying behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic—a qualitative analysis of toilet paper hoarding contents on Twitter. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (3) 1127, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031127

Anxiety and panic buying behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic—a qualitative analysis of toilet paper hoarding contents on Twitter

2021

Conference Publication

Panic buying behavior analysis of COVID-19 related toilet paper hoarding content on Twitter

Chung, Jack Yiu Chak, Leung, Janni, Tisdale, Calvert, Chiu, Vivian, Lim, Carmen C. W. and Chan, Gary (2021). Panic buying behavior analysis of COVID-19 related toilet paper hoarding content on Twitter. 3rd International Electronic Conference on Environmental Research and Public Health, Online, 11-25 January 2021. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/ecerph-3-09001

Panic buying behavior analysis of COVID-19 related toilet paper hoarding content on Twitter

2021

Conference Publication

Psychological distress and the experience of self-restrained lifestyle through COVID-19 in Japan – public insights from #Coronavirus-depression on Twitter

Huo, Yan, Lim, Carmen C. W., Chiu, Vivian, Tachimori, Hisateru and Leung, Janni (2021). Psychological distress and the experience of self-restrained lifestyle through COVID-19 in Japan – public insights from #Coronavirus-depression on Twitter. The 3rd International Electronic Conference on Environmental Research and Public Health, Online, 11-25 January 2021. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/ECERPH-3-09018

Psychological distress and the experience of self-restrained lifestyle through COVID-19 in Japan – public insights from #Coronavirus-depression on Twitter

2021

Conference Publication

The changing patterns and correlates of adolescent polytobacco use among nationally representative samples of US youth spanning 6 years: a latent class analysis.

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C. W., Leung, Janni, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D., Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2021). The changing patterns and correlates of adolescent polytobacco use among nationally representative samples of US youth spanning 6 years: a latent class analysis. . APSAD Scientific Drug and Alcohol Conference, Virtual, 7-10 November 2021.

The changing patterns and correlates of adolescent polytobacco use among nationally representative samples of US youth spanning 6 years: a latent class analysis.

2020

Journal Article

Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets

Lim, Carmen C.W, Leung, Janni K.Y, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne D., Gartner, Coral, Cheng, Brandon H.C, Scheurer, Roman W., Sun, Tianze and Chan, Gary C.K (2020). Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 217 108254, 108254. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108254

Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets

2020

Conference Publication

Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets

Lim, Carmen, Leung, Janni, Cheng, Brandon, Connor, Jason, Hall, Wayne, Gartner, Coral, Scheurer, Roman, Sun, Tianze and Chan, Gary (2020). Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets. APSAD EMCR virtual showcase , Online, 4-25 November 2020.

Availability of substances for use in personal vaporisers on three online cryptomarkets

2020

Journal Article

Effect of sodium benzoate vs placebo among individuals with early psychosis: a randomized clinical trial

Scott, James G., Baker, Andrea, Lim, Carmen C. W., Foley, Sharon, Dark, Frances, Gordon, Anne, Ward, David, Richardson, Drew, Bruxner, George, Beckmann, K. Martin, Hatherill, Sean, Stathis, Stephen, Dixon, Krystal, Ryan, Alexander E., McWhinney, Brett C., Ungerer, Jacobus P. J., Berk, Michael, Dean, Olivia M., Saha, Sukanta and McGrath, John (2020). Effect of sodium benzoate vs placebo among individuals with early psychosis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA network open, 3 (11) e2024335, e2024335. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.24335

Effect of sodium benzoate vs placebo among individuals with early psychosis: a randomized clinical trial

2020

Journal Article

Gateway or common liability? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies of adolescent e‐cigarette use and future smoking initiation

Chan, Gary C. K., Stjepanovic, Daniel, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Shanmuga Anandan, Aathavan, Connor, Jason P., Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D. and Leung, Janni (2020). Gateway or common liability? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies of adolescent e‐cigarette use and future smoking initiation. Addiction, 116 (4) add.15246, 743-756. doi: 10.1111/add.15246

Gateway or common liability? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies of adolescent e‐cigarette use and future smoking initiation

2020

Journal Article

The cost of mental disorders: a systematic review

Christensen, M. K., Lim, C. C. W., Saha, S., Plana-Ripoll, O., Cannon, D., Presley, F., Weye, N., Momen, N. C., Whiteford, H. A., Iburg, K. M. and McGrath, J. J. (2020). The cost of mental disorders: a systematic review. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29 e161, e161. doi: 10.1017/s204579602000075x

The cost of mental disorders: a systematic review

2020

Journal Article

Comorbidity within mental disorders: a comprehensive analysis based on 145 990 survey respondents from 27 countries

McGrath, J. J., Lim, C. C. W., Plana-Ripoll, O., Holtz, Y., Agerbo, E., Momen, N. C., Mortensen, P. B., Pedersen, C. B., Abdulmalik, J., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Bromet, E. J., Bruffaerts, R., Bunting, B., de Almeida, J. M. C., de Girolamo, G., De Vries, Y. A., Florescu, S., Gureje, O., Haro, J. M., Harris, M. G., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., Kawakami, N., Kiejna, A., Kovess-Masfety, V., Lee, S., Mneimneh, Z. ... de Jonge, P. (2020). Comorbidity within mental disorders: a comprehensive analysis based on 145 990 survey respondents from 27 countries. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29 e153, e153. doi: 10.1017/s2045796020000633

Comorbidity within mental disorders: a comprehensive analysis based on 145 990 survey respondents from 27 countries

2020

Journal Article

Randomized controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training compared to befriending group

Dark, Frances, Scott, James G., Baker, Andrea, Parker, Stephen, Gordon, Anne, Newman, Ellie, Gore-Jones, Victoria, Lim, Carmen C. W., Jones, Lyndall and Penn, David L. (2020). Randomized controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training compared to befriending group. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59 (3) bjc.12252, 384-402. doi: 10.1111/bjc.12252

Randomized controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training compared to befriending group

2020

Journal Article

Corrigendum to: The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys [Addict. Behav. 102 (2020) 106128] (Addictive Behaviors (2020) 102, (S0306460319304897), (10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128))

Glantz, Meyer D., Bharat, Chrianna, Degenhardt, Louisa, Sampson, Nancy A., Scott, Kate M., Lim, Carmen C. W., Al-Hamzawi, Ali, Alonso, Jordi, Andrade, Laura Helena, Cardoso, Graca, De Girolamo, Giovanni, Gureje, Oye, He, Yanling, Hinkov, Hristo, Karam, Elie G., Karam, Georges, Kovess-Masfety, Viviane, Lasebikan, Victor, Lee, Sing, Levinson, Daphna, McGrath, John, Medina-Mora, Maria-Elena, Mihaescu-Pintia, Constanta, Mneimneh, Zeina, Moskalewicz, Jacek, Navarro-Mateu, Fernando, Posada-Villa, José, Rapsey, Charlene, Stagnaro, Juan Carlos ... Kessler, Ronald C. (2020). Corrigendum to: The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys [Addict. Behav. 102 (2020) 106128] (Addictive Behaviors (2020) 102, (S0306460319304897), (10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128)). Addictive Behaviors, 106 106381, 106381. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106381

Corrigendum to: The epidemiology of alcohol use disorders cross-nationally: findings from the World Mental Health Surveys [Addict. Behav. 102 (2020) 106128] (Addictive Behaviors (2020) 102, (S0306460319304897), (10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106128))

Funding

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Monitoring Australia's illicit tobacco and vaping product markets
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    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