![Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan](/sites/default/files/profiles/8921.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Dr. Gary Chan is a NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research. His principal research interest lies in the field of substance misuse prevention and the application of cutting-edge statistical method for longitudinal analysis and causal inference. His recent publications have been focused on polysubstance use (including alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) profiles in adolescent populations, examinations of urban-rural differences in substance use, and the epidemiology of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use. He collaborates extensively with leading researchers in major national and international institutes, including the University of Washington, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, University of Melbourne, and University College London. He has also served as a consultant at the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime to improve exisitng methods for monitoring global trends of illicit substance production, trafficking and use. This work has made significant impact on how global data will be collected, and these new data will be used by the United nations and many national governments to inform drug policy decision making. He is a Deputy Statistical and Methodology Editor for the journal Addiction.
Dr. Chan is also a statistical advisor at the School of Psychology, providing statistical advice to academic staff and RHD students. Since 2016, he has also delivered several advanced statistcal workshops at the School on R and statistical modelling.
Availability
- Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion
Kelly, Adrian B., Evans-Whipp, Tracy J., Smith, Rachel, Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John, Patton, George C., Hemphill, Sheryl A., Hall, Wayne D. and Catalano, Richard R. (2015). A longitudinal study of the association of adolescent polydrug use, alcohol use and high school non-completion. Addiction, 110 (4), 627-635. doi: 10.1111/add.12829
2014
Journal Article
The association of puberty and young adolescent alcohol use: do parents have a moderating role?
Li, H. Karen, Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne W. (2014). The association of puberty and young adolescent alcohol use: do parents have a moderating role?. Addictive Behaviors, 39 (10), 1389-1393. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.05.006
2014
Journal Article
Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?
Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., White, Angela, Saunders, John B., Baker, Peter J. and Connor, Jason P. (2014). Is there any evidence of changes in patterns of concurrent drug use among young Australians 18-29 years between 2007 and 2010?. Addictive Behaviors, 39 (8), 1249-1252. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.04.009
2014
Journal Article
Proximate causes and possible adaptive functions of mast seeding and barren flower shows in spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) in arid regions of Australia
Wright, Boyd R., Zuur, Alain F. and Chan, Gary C. K. (2014). Proximate causes and possible adaptive functions of mast seeding and barren flower shows in spinifex grasses (Triodia spp.) in arid regions of Australia. Rangeland Journal, 36 (3), 297-308. doi: 10.1071/RJ13104
2013
Journal Article
Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use: latent class analysis of an Australian nationally representative sample of young adults
Quek, Lake-Hui, Chan, Gary C. K., White, Angela, Connor, Jason P., Baker, Peter J., Saunders, John B. and Kelly, Adrian B. (2013). Concurrent and simultaneous polydrug use: latent class analysis of an Australian nationally representative sample of young adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 1 (61) 61, 1-9. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2013.00061
2013
Journal Article
Predicting steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years: age-related variations in key social influences
Chan, Gary C. K, Kelly, Adrian B., Toumbourou, John W., Hemphill, Sheryl A., Young, Ross McD., Haynes, Michele A. and Catalano, Richard F. (2013). Predicting steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years: age-related variations in key social influences. Addiction, 108 (11), 1924-1932. doi: 10.1111/add.12295
2013
Journal Article
Beyond the primary influences of parents and peers on very young adolescent alcohol use: evidence of independent community effects
Smith, Dayna T., Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne W. (2013). Beyond the primary influences of parents and peers on very young adolescent alcohol use: evidence of independent community effects. Journal of Early Adolescence, OnlineFirst (5), 1-16. doi: 10.1177/0272431613498647
2013
Journal Article
Accounting for the association of family conflict and heavy alcohol use among adolescent girls: the role of depressed mood
Chan, Gary C. K., Kelly, Adrian B. and Toumbourou, John W. (2013). Accounting for the association of family conflict and heavy alcohol use among adolescent girls: the role of depressed mood. Journal of Studies On Alcohol and Drugs, 74 (3), 396-405. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2013.74.396
2013
Journal Article
The topography of multiple drug use among adolescent Australians: findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey
White, Angela, Chan, Gary C. K., Quek, Lake-Hui, Connor, Jason P., Saunders, John B., Baker, Peter, Brackenridge, Charlotte and Kelly, Adrian B. (2013). The topography of multiple drug use among adolescent Australians: findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Addictive Behaviors, 38 (4), 2068-2073. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.01.001
2013
Other Outputs
Understanding steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years
Chan, Chung Kai (2013). Understanding steep escalations in alcohol use over the teenage years. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.88
2013
Conference Publication
A latent class analysis of polydrug use in treatment-seeking cannabis users: the role of social cognitive mechanisms
Chan, Gary, Connor, Jason P., Gullo, Matthew J., Young, Ross M. C. D., Hall, Wayne and Feeney, Gerald F. X. (2013). A latent class analysis of polydrug use in treatment-seeking cannabis users: the role of social cognitive mechanisms. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24-27 November 2013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. doi: 10.1111/dar.12077
2013
Journal Article
Polysubstance use in cannabis users referred for treatment: Drug use profiles, psychiatric comorbidity and cannabis-related beliefs
Connor, Jason P., Gullo, Matthew J., Chan, Gary, Young, Ross McD., Hall, Wayne D. and Feeney, Gerald F. X. (2013). Polysubstance use in cannabis users referred for treatment: Drug use profiles, psychiatric comorbidity and cannabis-related beliefs. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4 (AUG) Aticle 79, 79.1-79.6. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00079
2012
Journal Article
How important is the context of an adolescent's first alcoholic drink? Evidence that parental provision may reduce later heavy episodic drinking
Kelly, Adrian, Chan, Gary C. K. and O'Flaherty, Martin (2012). How important is the context of an adolescent's first alcoholic drink? Evidence that parental provision may reduce later heavy episodic drinking. European Addiction Research, 18 (3), 140-148. doi: 10.1159/000335059
2012
Journal Article
Very young adolescents and alcohol: Evidence of a unique susceptibility to peer alcohol use.
Kelly, Adrian B., Chan, Gary C. K., Toumbourou, John W., O'Flaherty, Martin, Homel, Ross, Patton, George C. and Williams, Joanne (2012). Very young adolescents and alcohol: Evidence of a unique susceptibility to peer alcohol use.. Addictive Behaviors, 37 (4), 414-419. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.11.038
2012
Conference Publication
Predicting steep trajectories of alcohol use in young adolescents: evidence of age-related variation in key risk factors
Chan, Gary Chung Kai, Kelly, Adrian, Toumbourou, John W., Young, Ross, Haynes, Michele, Hemphill, Sheryl and Catalano, Richard (2012). Predicting steep trajectories of alcohol use in young adolescents: evidence of age-related variation in key risk factors. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2012, Melbourne, Australia, 18-21 November 2012. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00514.x
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Electronic cigarettes use among young people - risks factors for its initiation and escalation, impact on mental health, and its effect on smoking cessation
Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporisors have been gaining popularity in many developed countries such as the US, Canada and the UK. It has been promoted as a cessation device for smokers, thus it holds the potential to reduce smoking related burden on the society. However, it also raises concerns that its uptake among young people may renormalise cigarette smoking. This projects will evaluate the overall evidences of its benefit and harms on public health.
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Understanding initiation, escalation and remission of substance use from adolescence to mid-adulthood: A life course approach
It is well known that adolescence is a period of experiementation and many adolescents may experience with illicit substance during this period. While many of them do not progress into problematic use (e.g. abuse and dependence), some have escalated their use during their 20s and maintained their habits into 30s and 40s. This project will take a life course approach to understand risk factors for substance initiation and escalation, and factors that are linked to natural remission of substance us in mid-adulthood.
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The benefits and harms of Gaming
With the proliferation of handheld devices, video gaming has penstrated nearly every corner of the world and every age groups. This project will focus on quantifying the benefit of gaming, such as increased connectivity with friends in the virtual world and overcoming loneliness during difficult time (e.g., COVID lockdown), and the potential harms such as addiction.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Social media and substance use among young people
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Janni Leung
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Public Health Impacts of Vaping Product Use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Associate Professor Janni Leung, Professor Coral Gartner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Learning from the opioid crisis - Preventing the proliferation of prescription stimulant for non-medical use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Janni Leung, Dr Natalie Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Determinants of alcohol drinking, and tobacco smoking, and e-cigarette vaping in Vietnamese young people and young Vietnamese migrant in Australia : implications for public health interventions and substance-use control policies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Phong Thai
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Doctor Philosophy
Data mining for characterization of the chemical exposome in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impacts of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Vaping - Insight into Australian Cannabis Policies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Janni Leung
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Doctor Philosophy
Stress, Allostatic Load and Substance Use in Defence Force Veterans with PTSD
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor
-
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of social media upon alcohol use: An investigation of effects and mechanisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Carmen Lim, Professor Jason Connor
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Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing self-confidence in school-aged adolescents for prevention impulsive behaviors (substance addiction, risky sexual behavior, gambling and internet addiction) and mental illnesses
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leanne Hides, Associate Professor Janni Leung, Dr Carmen Lim
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Doctor Philosophy
Adolescent exposure to online cannabis advertisements
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Associate Professor Janni Leung
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging trends of cannabis vaping in the USA and Canada: Prevalence, correlates, and online presence
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Dr Daniel Stjepanovic, Associate Professor Janni Leung, Professor Coral Gartner
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Advancements in Understanding and Intervention of Problematic Alcohol use by Emerging Adults in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Chiara Broccatelli, Professor Leanne Hides
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Impact of Tobacco Tax Increases on Smoking Behaviours and Tobacco Purchasing Patterns
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Coral Gartner
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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
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Leanne Hides, Associate Professor Janni Leung
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Cannabis Legalisation: An Empirical Analysis Causes of Attitudinal Change in the U.S. and Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall, Professor Leanne Hides, Associate Professor Janni Leung
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan directly for media enquiries about:
- alcohol
- cannabis
- Substance use
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