Associate Professor Janni Leung
Associate Professor

Janni Leung

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32526

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

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Clinical sciences Epidemiology Health Sciences Psychology

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

Search Professor Janni Leung’s works on UQ eSpace

311 works between 2010 and 2025
All (311) Journal Article (241) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (64) Other Outputs (5)

21 - 40 of 311 works

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

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

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, 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

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

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

2024

Journal Article

The use and knowledge around vaping and their correlates among university students—a cross-sectional Australian Study

Leung, Janni, Ellem, Rhiannon, Glasgow, Sophia, Rowe, Amy-Leigh, Gardner, Lauren, Davidson, Lily, Campbell, Gabrielle, Pocuca, Nina, Tisdale, Calvert, Chan, Gary and Hides, Leanne (2024). The use and knowledge around vaping and their correlates among university students—a cross-sectional Australian Study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 23 (4), 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s11469-024-01281-5

The use and knowledge around vaping and their correlates among university students—a cross-sectional Australian Study

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

Journal Article

Prevalence and correlates of positive parental attitudes towards cannabis use and use intention in Australia during 2016 and 2019

Chiu, Vivian, Dawson, Danielle, Chan, Gary, Hall, Wayne, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2024). Prevalence and correlates of positive parental attitudes towards cannabis use and use intention in Australia during 2016 and 2019. Addictive Behaviors, 150 107917, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107917

Prevalence and correlates of positive parental attitudes towards cannabis use and use intention in Australia during 2016 and 2019

2024

Journal Article

Participation in Australian drug treatment programs for individuals engaging in high‐risk substance use: data from a nationally representative sample

Leung, Janni, Yimer, Tesfa Mekonen, Chiu, Vivian, Hall, Wayne D., Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary Chung Kai (2024). Participation in Australian drug treatment programs for individuals engaging in high‐risk substance use: data from a nationally representative sample. Drug and Alcohol Review, 43 (3), 688-693. doi: 10.1111/dar.13792

Participation in Australian drug treatment programs for individuals engaging in high‐risk substance use: data from a nationally representative sample

2024

Journal Article

Investigating the critical period for alcohol or other drug-related presentations following access to residential substance use treatment: a data linkage study

Tisdale, Calvert, Leung, Janni, de Andrade, Dominique and Hides, Leanne (2024). Investigating the critical period for alcohol or other drug-related presentations following access to residential substance use treatment: a data linkage study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 23 (4), 1-29. doi: 10.1007/s11469-024-01248-6

Investigating the critical period for alcohol or other drug-related presentations following access to residential substance use treatment: a data linkage study

2024

Journal Article

Extended hours of video game play and negative physical symptoms and pain

Leung, Janni, Saunders, John B., Stjepanović, Daniel, Tisdale, Calvert, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Connor, Jason, Gullo, Matthew, Wood, Andrew and Kai Chan, Gary Chung (2024). Extended hours of video game play and negative physical symptoms and pain. Computers in Human Behavior, 155 108181. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2024.108181

Extended hours of video game play and negative physical symptoms and pain

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

Journal Article

How much cannabis is used in a joint in Australia? An experimental investigation into use by potency and frequency

Dawson, Danielle, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Lorenzetti, Valentina, Hall, Wayne D. and Leung, Janni (2024). How much cannabis is used in a joint in Australia? An experimental investigation into use by potency and frequency. Drug and Alcohol Review, 43 (1), 226-232. doi: 10.1111/dar.13747

How much cannabis is used in a joint in Australia? An experimental investigation into use by potency and frequency

2024

Journal Article

Research Letter: E-cigarette use and mental health during early adolescence: An Australian survey among over 5000 young people

Gardner, Lauren A, O’Dean, Siobhan, Rowe, Amy-Leigh, Hawkins, Annabelle, Egan, Lyra, Stockings, Emily, Teesson, Maree, Hides, Leanne, Catakovic, Amra, Ellem, Rhiannon, McBride, Nyanda, Allsop, Steve, Blackburn, Kathleen, Stapinski, Lexine, Freeman, Becky, Leung, Janni, Thornton, Louise, Birrell, Louise, Champion, Katrina E and Newton, Nicola C. (2024). Research Letter: E-cigarette use and mental health during early adolescence: An Australian survey among over 5000 young people. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58 (12), 1103-1106. doi: 10.1177/00048674241267908

Research Letter: E-cigarette use and mental health during early adolescence: An Australian survey among over 5000 young people

2023

Journal Article

Treatment-seeking behavior and barriers to mental health service utilization for depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking: The role of religious and traditional healers in mental healthcare of Northwest Ethiopia

Yimer, Tesfa Mekonen, Chan, Gary C.K., Belete, Habte, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2023). Treatment-seeking behavior and barriers to mental health service utilization for depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking: The role of religious and traditional healers in mental healthcare of Northwest Ethiopia. Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, 10 e92, 1-12. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2023.88

Treatment-seeking behavior and barriers to mental health service utilization for depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking: The role of religious and traditional healers in mental healthcare of Northwest Ethiopia

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
  • 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
  • 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 - 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

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

Completed supervision

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