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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 200+ 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 data analysis 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.

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

323 works between 2010 and 2025

41 - 60 of 323 works

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

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

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

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, 108181. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2024.108181

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

2024

Other Outputs

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version)

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Farassania, Ghea, Lim, Carmen, Fausiah, Fitri, Su, Fang-Yi, Sebayang, Susy K., Nordhani, Mohammad and Leung, Janni (2024). Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version). Canberra, ACT, Australia:

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia version)

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

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

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

2023

Journal Article

Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes

Rutherford, Brienna N., Lim, Carmen C.W., Cheng, Brandon, Sun, Tianze, Vu, Giang T., Johnson, Benjamin, Ashley, Daniel Paul, Chung, Jack, Huang, Sandy, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2023). Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes. Addictive Behaviors, 147 107828, 107828. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107828

Viral vaping: a systematic review and meta analysis of e-cigarette and tobacco-related social media content and its influence on youth behaviours and attitudes

2023

Other Outputs

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit

McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Farassania, Ghea, Lim, Carmen, Fitri Fausiah, Su, Fang-Yi, Sebayang, Susy K., Nordhani, Mohammad and Leung, Janni (2023). Indonesia smoke-free toolkit. Canberra, ACT, Australia:

Indonesia smoke-free toolkit

2023

Journal Article

Global, regional, and country-level coverage of testing and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs: a systematic review

Hajarizadeh, Behzad, Kairouz, Abe, Ottaviano, Sophie, Ireland, Jeremy, Willing, Alex, Cunningham, Evan, Webb, Paige, Colledge-Frisby, Samantha, Wheeler, Alice, Leung, Janni, Tran, Lucy T, Price, Olivia, Vickerman, Peter, Farrell, Michael, Hickman, Matthew, Dore, Gregory J, Bergenström, Anne, Degenhardt, Louisa and Grebely, Jason (2023). Global, regional, and country-level coverage of testing and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs: a systematic review. The Lancet Global Health, 11 (12), e1885-e1898. doi: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00461-8

Global, regional, and country-level coverage of testing and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs: a systematic review

2023

Journal Article

Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys

Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Foo, Shaun, Sebayang, Susy, Farassania, Ghea, Fausiah, Fitri, Gartner, Coral and Chan, Gary C. K. (2023). Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys. Journal of Adolescent Health, 73 (6), 1138-1144. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.019

Adolescent exposure to online advertisements and promotions for tobacco products on the internet - a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys

2023

Journal Article

Associations between demographic variables, psychosocial health, quality of life, and happiness in the context of COVID-19

Østertun Geirdal, Amy K., Leung, Janni, Price, Daicia, Kabelenga, Isaac, Lamph, Gary, Thygesen, Hilde, Ruffolo, Mary R. and Bonsaksen, Tore (2023). Associations between demographic variables, psychosocial health, quality of life, and happiness in the context of COVID-19. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 19 (2), 603-617. doi: 10.1007/s11482-023-10255-z

Associations between demographic variables, psychosocial health, quality of life, and happiness in the context of COVID-19

2023

Journal Article

Schooling-at-home and extra child-caring responsibilities were associated with parental mental health, psychosocial well-being, and loneliness

Leung, Janni, Price, Daicia, Bonsaksen, Tore, Ruffolo, Mary, Thygesen, Hilde, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Schoultz, Mariyana and Ostertun Geirdal, Amy (2023). Schooling-at-home and extra child-caring responsibilities were associated with parental mental health, psychosocial well-being, and loneliness. Social Education Research, 5 (1), 1-14. doi: 10.37256/ser.5120243332

Schooling-at-home and extra child-caring responsibilities were associated with parental mental health, psychosocial well-being, and loneliness

2023

Journal Article

Efficacy of smokeless tobacco for smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Stjepanović, Daniel, Phartiyal, Preeti, Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen C. W., Sun, Tianze, Chung, Jack Yiu Chak, Gartner, Coral E., Hall, Wayne D. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2023). Efficacy of smokeless tobacco for smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Tobacco Control, 32 (6) 057019, 1-12. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-057019

Efficacy of smokeless tobacco for smoking cessation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2023

Conference Publication

Examining the recurrent risk of health service access for suicidal behaviours and suicidal death following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis

Tisdale, Calvert, Leung, Janni, de Andrade, Dominique, Campbell, Gabrielle and Hides, Leanne (2023). Examining the recurrent risk of health service access for suicidal behaviours and suicidal death following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12–15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.

Examining the recurrent risk of health service access for suicidal behaviours and suicidal death following residential treatment for substance use disorders: A recurrent event analysis

2023

Conference Publication

The burden of preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia - Analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019

Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen C. W., Sun, Tianze, Vu, Giang, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Bao, Yanping, Santo, Thomas, Tran, Lucy T., Fausiah, Fitri, Farassania, Ghea, Chan, Gary Chung Kai and Sebayang, Susy Katikana (2023). The burden of preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia - Analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12-15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749

The burden of preventable deaths attributable to second-hand smoke in Southeast Asia - Analysis of the global burden of disease study 2019

2023

Conference Publication

Deciphering the buzz of Delta-8 THC in the USA on Twitter

Lim, Carmen C. W., Dawson, Danielle, McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Stjepanovic, Daniel, Leung, Janni, Chan, Gary Chung Kai, Connor, Jason P. and Hall, Wayne D. (2023). Deciphering the buzz of Delta-8 THC in the USA on Twitter. APSAD 2023 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12–15 November 2023. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dar.13749

Deciphering the buzz of Delta-8 THC in the USA on Twitter

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
  • 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

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Janni Leung is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose 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. Public health impacts of cannabis legalisation
    3. Video gaming addiction in youth, adults, and later life across different population groups

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

    • Highly motivated, proactive, and self-directed
    • Strong written and oral communication skills
    • Quantitative analysis experience
    • Has completed or is enrolled to complete the UQ library workshop on systematic reviews and database searching
    • Flexibility in independent work and values contribution to team work

  • 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:

  • addiction epidemiology
  • alcohol harm
  • behavioural addictions
  • cannabis epidemiology
  • cannabis legalisation
  • digital gaming
  • e-cigarettes / vaping
  • mental health
  • public health
  • substance use
  • video game addiction

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au