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Associate Professor Janni Leung
Associate Professor

Janni Leung

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32526

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

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

  • Substance use, substance abuse, and substance dependence

  • Mental health and mental disorders

  • Epidemiology, public health

  • Burden of disease

  • Higher education

Works

Search Professor Janni Leung’s works on UQ eSpace

301 works between 2010 and 2025

1 - 20 of 301 works

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. doi: 10.1177/10870547251318834

Content analysis of the portrayal of prescription stimulants on TikTok

2025

Journal Article

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. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 267 111464, 111464. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111464

The Prevalence of Cannabis Use Disorders in People who Use Medicinal cannabis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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

The relationship between cannabis and nicotine use: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

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), 2. doi: 10.7895/ijadr.499

Adolescent alcohol drinking and cannabis use: Longitudinal, and cohort analysis of high school students in Australia

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

Randomized effectiveness‐implementation trial of dialectical behavior therapy interventions for young people with borderline personality disorder symptoms

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

Alcohol use and alcohol use disorders in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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

Through the looking glass: an alcohol advertisement every 3 minutes

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

The risk of repeated suicidal presentations following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis using linked administrative data

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 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

The Gaming Disorder Identification Test (GADIT) – a screening tool for Gaming Disorder based on ICD-11

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. 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

Patterns of drug use among people who inject drugs: a global systematic review and meta-analysis

Webb, Paige, Ireland, Jeremy, Colledge-Frisby, Samantha, Peacock, Amy, Leung, Janni, Vickerman, Peter, Farrell, Michael, Hickman, Matthew, Grebely, Jason and Degenhardt, Louisa (2024). Patterns of drug use among people who inject drugs: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 128 104455. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104455

Patterns of drug use among people who inject drugs: a global systematic review and meta-analysis

2024

Journal Article

Designing observational studies for credible causal inference in addiction research—Directed acyclic graphs, modified disjunctive cause criterion and target trial emulation

Chan, Gary C. K., Sun, Tianze, Stjepanović, Daniel, Vu, Giang, Hall, Wayne D., Connor, Jason P. and Leung, Janni (2024). Designing observational studies for credible causal inference in addiction research—Directed acyclic graphs, modified disjunctive cause criterion and target trial emulation. Addiction, 119 (6), 1125-1134. doi: 10.1111/add.16442

Designing observational studies for credible causal inference in addiction research—Directed acyclic graphs, modified disjunctive cause criterion and target trial emulation

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. doi: 10.1186/s12954-024-01027-5

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

2024

Journal Article

Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian Francesco, Aali, Amirali, Abate, Yohannes Habtegiorgis, Abbafati, Cristiana, Abbastabar, Hedayat, Abd ElHafeez, Samar, Abdelmasseh, Michael, Abd-Elsalam, Sherief, Abdollahi, Arash, Abdullahi, Auwal, Abegaz, Kedir Hussein, Abeldaño Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel, Aboagye, Richard Gyan, Abolhassani, Hassan, Abreu, Lucas Guimarães, Abualruz, Hasan, Abu-Gharbieh, Eman, Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen ME, Ackerman, Ilana N, Addo, Isaac Yeboah, Addolorato, Giovanni, Adebiyi, Akindele Olupelumi, Adepoju, Abiola Victor, Adewuyi, Habeeb Omoponle, Afyouni, Shadi, Afzal, Saira, Afzal, Sina, Agodi, Antonella ... Murray, Christopher J L (2024). Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403 (10440), 2133-2161. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00757-8

Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

2024

Journal Article

The nature and characteristics of problem gaming, with a focus on ICD-11 diagnoses

Saunders, John B., Chan, Gary, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel and Connor, Jason P. (2024). The nature and characteristics of problem gaming, with a focus on ICD-11 diagnoses. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 37 (4), 292-300. doi: 10.1097/yco.0000000000000949

The nature and characteristics of problem gaming, with a focus on ICD-11 diagnoses

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

The psychosocial health of Black/African Americans compared with people of other races/ethnic origins during the COVID-19 pandemic

Price, Daicia, Bonsaksen, Tore, Leung, Janni, Ruffolo, Mary, Lamph, Gary, Hawkins, Karis and Østertun Geirdal, Amy (2024). The psychosocial health of Black/African Americans compared with people of other races/ethnic origins during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID, 4 (4), 506-517. doi: 10.3390/covid4040034

The psychosocial health of Black/African Americans compared with people of other races/ethnic origins during the COVID-19 pandemic

2024

Journal Article

The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dawson, Danielle, Stjepanović, Daniel, Lorenzetti, Valentina, Cheung, Christy, Hall, Wayne and Leung, Janni (2024). The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 257 111263, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111263

The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2024

Journal Article

Patterns of social media use across age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study across four countries

Bonsaksen, Tore, Thygesen, Hilde, Leung, Janni, Lamph, Gary, Kabelenga, Isaac and Østertun Geirdal, Amy (2024). Patterns of social media use across age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study across four countries. Social Sciences, 13 (4) 194, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/socsci13040194

Patterns of social media use across age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study across four countries

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 - 2025
    Developing and evaluating an AI-assisted health promotion campaign on social media to tackle the public health concerns of youth vaping
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    A new scalable eHealth approach to prevent e-cigarette use among adolescents: The OurFutures Vaping program (MRFF Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles Grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Reducing the impact and burden of substance use on mental health
    NHMRC Investigator Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    UQ AWARE - Dr Janni Leung
    UQ Amplify Women's Academic Research Equity
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Establishing an International Consortium on video gaming addiction
    U21 Health Sciences Group International Projects Fund
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Review of alcohol and other drugs program
    Queensland Department of Education
    Open grant
  • 2023
    How can we minimise the adolescent uptake of vaping and related social and health harm?
    Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    How much burden from depression can be alleviated if Australians reduce their alcohol consumption?
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Quantifying the impact and burden of substance use disorders on mental health
    UQ Development Fellowships
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
Available for supervision

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

Available projects

  • Available Dissertation and Thesis Topics (No International Scholarships Available)

    How to apply – Send your CV, academic transcript, and cover letter to <j.leung1@uq.edu.au>

    1. Epidemiology of mental and substance use disorders
    2. Harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorders
    3. Video gaming addiction in youth and across different population groups
    4. Smoking in South-East Asia
    5. Substance use treatment service use
    6. Cost-effectiveness of addiction interventions

    *Propose your own topics. Research projects would be suitable to those:

    • Highly motivated, proactive, and self-directed
    • Strong written and oral communication skills
    • Has completed or is enrolled to complete the UQ library workshop on systematic reviews and database searching
    • Able to travel to St Lucia, The University of Queensland

  • Areas of RHD supervision

    • Psychiatry epidemiology
    • Alcohol use disorders
    • Alcohol drinking behavior
    • Tobacco smoking
    • Gaming addiction
    • Video game play behaviours
    • Injecting drug use
    • Person who inject drugs
    • Substance use
    • Substance dependence
    • Substance abuse
    • Drug use disorders
    • Amphetamine / methamphetamine
    • Cocaine / Heroin
    • Marijuana / Cannabis
    • Psycho-stimulants
    • Mental health and mental disorders
    • Depression & anxiety
    • Public attitudes
    • Burden of disease
    • Treatment rates and treatment gaps
    • Risk factors and outcomes of substance use
    • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Associate Professor Janni Leung directly for media enquiries about:

  • Disease burden
  • Mental health
  • Substance abuse
  • Substance dependence
  • Substance use

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au