
Overview
Background
A/Prof Janni Leung (PhD) is an NHMRC Development Fellow at National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR) at The University of Queensland. Their program of research includes investigating the epidemiology of substance use and mental health because they are both major public health issues that commonly occur together. This research program had made paradigm-changing development through 100+ articles, which have recognised impact (15,000+ cites, 30% output in the top 1% citation percentile). Many of their work involves conducting systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and applying statistical models to epidemiological data on addiction and mental health issues to better understand their impacts on populations. Her work is used to inform policies on how to reduce the disease burden caused by addiction and mental health problems in Australia and overseas. Janni is committed to conducting high-quality rigorous research to generate empirical epidemiological evidence to inform decisions to prevent addiction-related harms in the population.
Teaching and supervision: They have qualifications and training in public health, sociology, and psychology. In addition, they have strong research and teaching experience in epidemiology and biostatistics. Janni has worked with a range of students from diverse demographic and cultural backgrounds, including mature-aged students and students with family responsibilities. She currently has a topic available for a self-motivated student interested in addiction research. Janni’s current research focus is on the epidemiology and disease burden associated with mental and substance use disorders across the globe.
Consultation: Janni is available for private consultation and workshop presentations on request for various research methodological and statistical topics, e.g. systematic reviews and meta-analysis, questionnaire and survey designs, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
Where can you find Janni: Janni is based at the UQ St Lucia campus with regular visits to the Long Pocket and Herston campuses. You may also catch Janni at the APSAD conference.
Availability
- Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Health Sciences, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Substance use, substance abuse, and substance dependence
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Mental health and mental disorders
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Epidemiology, public health
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Burden of disease
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Higher education
Works
Search Professor Janni Leung’s works on UQ eSpace
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
The OurFutures Vaping eHealth intervention to prevent e-cigarette use among adolescent students in Australia: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Gardner, Lauren A., Newton, Nicola C., Rowe, Amy-Leigh, O'Dean, Siobhan, Teesson, Maree, Hides, Leanne, McBride, Nyanda, Sunderland, Matthew, Freeman, Becky, Egan, Lyra, Hawkins, Annabelle, Ellem, Rhiannon, Catakovic, Amra, Caradmone, Elise, Alcorn, Chloe, Blackburn, Kathleen, East, Jazlyn, Thornton, Louise, Stapinski, Lexine, Birrell, Louise, Lee, Yong Yi, Mihalopoulos, Cathy, Leung, Janni, McRobbie, Hayden, Lee, Nicole, Allsop, Steve, Champion, Katrina E. and Stockings, Emily (2025). The OurFutures Vaping eHealth intervention to prevent e-cigarette use among adolescent students in Australia: a cluster randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Public Health, 10 (8), e682-e692. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00145-8
2025
Journal Article
Generative artificial intelligence with youth codesign to create vaping awareness advertisements
Leung, Janni, Sun, Tianze, Stjepanović, Daniel, Vu, Giang, Yimer, Tesfa, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne and Chan, Gary C. K. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence with youth codesign to create vaping awareness advertisements. JAMA Network Open, 8 (7), e2514040. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.14040
2025
Journal Article
Trends in social norms toward cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use among U.S. youth between 2015 and 2021
Vu, Giang T., Sun, Tianze, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason P., Thai, Phong, Gartner, Coral, Leung, Janni and Chan, Gary (2025). Trends in social norms toward cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use among U.S. youth between 2015 and 2021. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntaf120
2025
Journal Article
Content analysis of the portrayal of prescription stimulants on TikTok
Johnson, Benjamin, Sun, Tianze, Wu, Leo, Seal, Stella, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Chan, Gary and Leung, Janni (2025). Content analysis of the portrayal of prescription stimulants on TikTok. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29 (8), 617-627. doi: 10.1177/10870547251318834
2025
Journal Article
The prevalence and correlates of self‐reported cannabis use for medicinal, dual and recreational motives in Australia: Findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022/2023
Dawson, Danielle, Chan, Gary, Stjepanović, Daniel, Lorenzetti, Valentina, Hall, Wayne D. and Leung, Janni (2025). The prevalence and correlates of self‐reported cannabis use for medicinal, dual and recreational motives in Australia: Findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022/2023. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44 (5), 1351-1364. doi: 10.1111/dar.14062
2025
Journal Article
Tobacco smoking in Sub‐Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Belete, Habte, Mekonen, Tesfa, Connor, Jason P., Chan, Gary, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2025). Tobacco smoking in Sub‐Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Drug and Alcohol Review, 44 (4), 1079-1091. doi: 10.1111/dar.14040
2025
Journal Article
A comprehensive systematic review dataset is a rich resource for training and evaluation of AI systems for title and abstract screening
Chan, Gary C. K., He, Estrid, Leung, Janni and Verspoor, Karin (2025). A comprehensive systematic review dataset is a rich resource for training and evaluation of AI systems for title and abstract screening. Research Synthesis Methods, 16 (2), 308-322. doi: 10.1017/rsm.2025.1
2025
Conference Publication
The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Dawson, Danielle, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Lorenzetti, Valentina, Cheung, Christy, Hall, Wayne and Leung, Janni (2025). The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 86th Annual Scientific Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 15-19 June 2025. E Park, Shannon, Ireland: Elsevier Ireland. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111464
2025
Journal Article
The safety and efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wilson, Jack, Langcake, Andrew, Bryant, Zachary, Freeman, Tom P., Leung, Janni, Chan, Gary C. K., Englund, Amir, Graham, Myfanwy and Stockings, Emily (2025). The safety and efficacy of cannabinoids for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews, 14 (1) 23, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s13643-024-02657-3
2024
Journal Article
The relationship between cannabis and nicotine use: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Yimer, Tesfa Mekonen, McClure‐Thomas, Caitlin, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Wilson, Jack, Chan, Gary Chung Kai, Hall, Wayne Denis and Leung, Janni (2024). The relationship between cannabis and nicotine use: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Addiction, 119 (12), 2076-2087. doi: 10.1111/add.16642
2024
Journal Article
Adolescent alcohol drinking and cannabis use: longitudinal, and cohort analysis of high school students in Australia
Davidson, Lily, Leung, Janni, Quinn, Catherine, Ellem, Rhiannon, Tisdale, Calvert, Choi, Jisu, Carlyle, Molly, White, Melanie, Kavanagh, David J. and Hides, Leanne (2024). Adolescent alcohol drinking and cannabis use: longitudinal, and cohort analysis of high school students in Australia. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 12 (2), 77-2. doi: 10.7895/ijadr.499
2024
Journal Article
“Everything’s a challenge”: An interview study of ADHD individuals in the midst of the prescription stimulant shortage
Johnson, Benjamin, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Leung, Janni and Chan, Gary C. K. (2024). “Everything’s a challenge”: An interview study of ADHD individuals in the midst of the prescription stimulant shortage. Journal of Attention Disorders, 29 (2), 120-127. doi: 10.1177/10870547241288351
2024
Journal Article
Randomized effectiveness‐implementation trial of dialectical behavior therapy interventions for young people with borderline personality disorder symptoms
de Andrade, Dominique, Davidson, Lily, Robertson, Carlie, Williams, Philip, Leung, Janni, Walter, Zoe, Allan, Julaine and Hides, Leanne (2024). Randomized effectiveness‐implementation trial of dialectical behavior therapy interventions for young people with borderline personality disorder symptoms. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80 (10), 2117-2133. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23725
2024
Journal Article
The risk of repeated suicidal presentations following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis using linked administrative data
Tisdale, Calvert, de Andrade, Dominique, Leung, Janni, Campbell, Gabrielle and Hides, Leanne (2024). The risk of repeated suicidal presentations following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis using linked administrative data. Journal of Affective Disorders, 360, 364-375. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.129
2024
Journal Article
Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Belete, Habte, Yimer, Tesfa Mekonen, Dawson, Danielle, Espinosa, Dorothy C., Ambaw, Fentie, Connor, Jason P., Chan, Gary, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2024). Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction, 119 (9), 1527-1540. doi: 10.1111/add.16514
2024
Journal Article
Through the looking glass: an alcohol advertisement every 3 minutes
Rutherford, Brienna N., Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel and Chan, Gary C. K. (2024). Through the looking glass: an alcohol advertisement every 3 minutes. Drug and Alcohol Review, 43 (6), 1426-1434. doi: 10.1111/dar.13886
2024
Journal Article
The Gaming Disorder Identification Test (GADIT) – a screening tool for Gaming Disorder based on ICD-11
Chan, Gary C. K., Saunders, John B., Stjepanović, Daniel, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Connor, Jason, Hides, Leanne, Wood, Andrew, King, Daniel, Siste, Kristiana, Long, Jiang and Leung, Janni K. (2024). The Gaming Disorder Identification Test (GADIT) – a screening tool for Gaming Disorder based on ICD-11. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 13 (3), 729-741. doi: 10.1556/2006.2024.00038
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
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Adolescent exposure to online cannabis advertisements
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Dr Tesfa Yimer
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Doctor Philosophy
Medicinal Cannabis Use in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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Doctor Philosophy
Population-level of substance use and health outcomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides, Dr Carmen Lim
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Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Vaping - Insight into Australian Cannabis Policies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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Doctor Philosophy
Learning from the opioid crisis - Preventing the proliferation of prescription stimulant for non-medical use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Dr Natalie Thomas, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Utilisation of data linkage to determine the long-term health and substance use outcomes of residential substance use treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leanne Hides, Dr Dominique De Andrade
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Mental health services in low resource settings: Treatment gap, service utilization, and barriers to mental health service use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Cannabis Legalisation: An Empirical Analysis Causes of Attitudinal Change in the U.S. and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan, Professor Leanne Hides
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Social Substances: The Online Landscape of Substance Use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Public Health Impacts of Vaping Product Use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Janni Leung directly for media enquiries about:
- Disease burden
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Substance dependence
- Substance use
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