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

302 works between 2010 and 2025
All (302) Journal Article (233) Book Chapter (1) Conference Publication (62) Other Outputs (6)

101 - 120 of 302 works

2022

Journal Article

Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study

Leung, Janni, Lim, Carmen C.W., Chiu, Vivian, Chung, Jack, Mekonen, Tesfa, Dawson, Danielle, Hall, Wayne D. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2022). Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 15 100436, 100436. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100436

Prevalence and correlates of cannabis use for medicinal reasons – an Australian cross-sectional study

2022

Journal Article

Students’ mental health, well-being, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national study

Bonsaksen, Tore, Chiu, Vivian, Leung, Janni, Schoultz, Mariyana, Thygesen, Hilde, Price, Daicia, Ruffolo, Mary and Geirdal, Amy Østertun (2022). Students’ mental health, well-being, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national study. Healthcare, 10 (6) 996, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10060996

Students’ mental health, well-being, and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-national study

2022

Journal Article

Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population

Leung, Janni, Gravely, Shannon, Lim, Carmen, Hall, Wayne and Chan, Gary (2022). Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population. Addiction, 117 (10), 2730-2735. doi: 10.1111/add.15951

Age‐period‐cohort analysis of trends in tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and their co‐use in the Australian population

2022

Journal Article

Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries

Chan, Gary C. K., Gartner, Coral, Lim, Carmen, Sun, Tianze, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason, Stjepanović, Daniel and Leung, Janni (2022). Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries. Addiction, 117 (8), 1-10. doi: 10.1111/add.15892

Association between the implementation of tobacco control policies and adolescent vaping in 44 lower‐middle, upper‐middle, and high‐income countries

2022

Journal Article

A systematic review of trends in US attitudes toward cannabis legalization

Chiu, Vivian, Hall, Wayne, Chan, Gary, Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2022). A systematic review of trends in US attitudes toward cannabis legalization. Substance Use and Misuse, 57 (7), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2063893

A systematic review of trends in US attitudes toward cannabis legalization

2022

Journal Article

Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C.W., Rutherford, Brienna N., Johnson, Benjamin, Leung, Janni, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D., Connor, Jason P. and Chan, C. K. Gary (2022). Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia. Addictive Behaviors, 127 107217, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107217

Is smoking reduction and cessation associated with increased e-cigarette use? Findings from a nationally representative sample of adult smokers in Australia

2022

Journal Article

An age-period-cohort analysis of trends in psychedelic and ecstasy use in the Australian population

Chan, Gary, Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen, Yuen, Wing See, Stjepanović, Daniel, Rutherford, Brienna, Hall, Wayne, Johnson, Ben and Leung, Janni (2022). An age-period-cohort analysis of trends in psychedelic and ecstasy use in the Australian population. Addictive Behaviors, 127 107216, 107216. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107216

An age-period-cohort analysis of trends in psychedelic and ecstasy use in the Australian population

2022

Journal Article

State-level prevalence and associates of opioid dependence in the USA

Leung, Janni, Chan, Gary C. K., Tan, Samuel X., McClure-Thomas, Caitlin, Degenhardt, Louisa and Hall, Wayne (2022). State-level prevalence and associates of opioid dependence in the USA. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (7) 3825, 3825. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19073825

State-level prevalence and associates of opioid dependence in the USA

2022

Journal Article

Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Ferrari, Alize J., Santomauro, Damian F., Herrera, Ana M. Mantilla, Shadid, Jamileh, Ashbaugh, Charlie, Erskine, Holly E., Charlson, Fiona J., Degenhardt, Louisa, Scott, James G., McGrath, John J., Allebeck, Peter, Benjet, Corina, Breitborde, Nicholas J. K., Brugha, Traolach, Dai, Xiaochen, Dandona, Lalit, Dandona, Rakhi, Fischer, Florian, Haagsma, Juanita A., Maria Haro, Josep, Kieling, Christian, Knudsen, Ann Kristin Skrindo, Kumar, G. Anil, Leung, Janni, Majeed, Azeem, Mitchell, Philip B., Moitra, Modhurima, Mokdad, Ali H., Molokhia, Mariam ... Whiteford, Harvey A. (2022). Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Psychiatry, 9 (2), 137-150. doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00395-3

Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

2022

Journal Article

Changes in viewer engagement and accessibility of popular vaping videos on TikTok: a 12-month prospective study

Rutherford, Brienna N., Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C. W., Chung, Jack, Cheng, Brandon, Davidson, Lily, Tisdale, Calvert, Leung, Janni, Stjepanović, Daniel, Connor, Jason P. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2022). Changes in viewer engagement and accessibility of popular vaping videos on TikTok: a 12-month prospective study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (3) 1141, 1141. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031141

Changes in viewer engagement and accessibility of popular vaping videos on TikTok: a 12-month prospective study

2022

Journal Article

Social media use and its associations with mental health 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-national study

Thygesen, Hilde, Bonsaksen, Tore, Schoultz, Mariyana, Ruffolo, Mary, Leung, Janni, Price, Daicia and Geirdal, Amy Østertun (2022). Social media use and its associations with mental health 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-national study. Frontiers in Public Health, 9 752004, 752004. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.752004

Social media use and its associations with mental health 9 months after the COVID-19 outbreak: a cross-national study

2022

Journal Article

Prevalence and self-reported reasons of cannabis use for medical purposes in USA and Canada

Leung, Janni, Chan, Gary, Stjepanović, Daniel, Chung, Jack Yiu Chak, Hall, Wayne and Hammond, David (2022). Prevalence and self-reported reasons of cannabis use for medical purposes in USA and Canada. Psychopharmacology, 239 (5), 1509-1519. doi: 10.1007/s00213-021-06047-8

Prevalence and self-reported reasons of cannabis use for medical purposes in USA and Canada

2022

Journal Article

What is the short-term remission rate for people with untreated depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mekonen, Tesfa, Ford, Sarah, Chan, Gary C. K., Hides, Leanne, Connor, Jason P. and Leung, Janni (2022). What is the short-term remission rate for people with untreated depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 296, 17-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.046

What is the short-term remission rate for people with untreated depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2022

Other Outputs

Cannabis legalisation in Canada: a brief history, policy rationale, implementation, and evidence of early impacts

Hall, Wayne, Stjepanovic, Daniel and Leung, Janni (2022). Cannabis legalisation in Canada: a brief history, policy rationale, implementation, and evidence of early impacts. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/a494332

Cannabis legalisation in Canada: a brief history, policy rationale, implementation, and evidence of early impacts

2022

Journal Article

Comorbidity of mental and musculoskeletal disorders in ageing women: a data linkage study using national registries

Heikkinen, J., Koivumaa-Honkanen, H., Rauma, P., Williams, L. J., Quirk, S. E., Leung, J. and Honkanen, R. J. (2022). Comorbidity of mental and musculoskeletal disorders in ageing women: a data linkage study using national registries. Maturitas, 155, 63-69. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2021.10.006

Comorbidity of mental and musculoskeletal disorders in ageing women: a data linkage study using national registries

2022

Journal Article

The impact of eSports and online video gaming on lifestyle behaviours in youth: a systematic review

Chan, Gary, Huo, Yan, Kelly, Sarah, Leung, Janni, Tisdale, Calvert and Gullo, Matthew (2022). The impact of eSports and online video gaming on lifestyle behaviours in youth: a systematic review. Computers in Human Behavior, 126 106974, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106974

The impact of eSports and online video gaming on lifestyle behaviours in youth: a systematic review

2021

Journal Article

Age-related trends in cannabis use in Australia. Findings from a series of large nationally representative surveys

Chan, Gary, Chiu, Vivian, Sun, Tianze, Connor, Jason P., Hall, Wayne D. and Leung, Janni (2021). Age-related trends in cannabis use in Australia. Findings from a series of large nationally representative surveys. Addictive Behaviors, 123 107059. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107059

Age-related trends in cannabis use in Australia. Findings from a series of large nationally representative surveys

2021

Journal Article

Has increased youth e-cigarette use in the USA, between 2014 and 2020, changed conventional smoking behaviors, future intentions to smoke and perceived smoking harms?

Sun, Tianze, Lim, Carmen C. W., Stjepanović, Daniel, Leung, Janni, Connor, Jason P., Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne D. and Chan, Gary C.K. (2021). Has increased youth e-cigarette use in the USA, between 2014 and 2020, changed conventional smoking behaviors, future intentions to smoke and perceived smoking harms?. Addictive Behaviors, 123 107073, 107073. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107073

Has increased youth e-cigarette use in the USA, between 2014 and 2020, changed conventional smoking behaviors, future intentions to smoke and perceived smoking harms?

2021

Journal Article

Estimating the global treatment rates for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Mekonen, Tesfa, Chan, Gary C.K., Connor, Jason P., Hides, Leanne and Leung, Janni (2021). Estimating the global treatment rates for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 295, 1234-1242. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.038

Estimating the global treatment rates for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021

Journal Article

Willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine as reported nine months after the pandemic outbreak: a cross-national study

Price, Daicia, Bonsaksen, Tore, Ruffolo, Mary, Leung, Janni, Thygesen, Hilde, Schoultz, Mariyana and Geirdal, Amy Ostertun (2021). Willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine as reported nine months after the pandemic outbreak: a cross-national study. Social Sciences, 10 (11) 442, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/socsci10110442

Willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine as reported nine months after the pandemic outbreak: a cross-national study

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

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

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