Janni Leung

Dr. Janni Leung is a Visiting Fellow at the National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) within the Faculty of Medicine & Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). With a PhD in Epidemiology, her research focuses on global substance use patterns, mental health comorbidities, and public health policy implications across diverse populations and geographic regions.

Dr. Leung holds qualifications and training in public health, sociology, and psychology, with strong research and teaching experience in epidemiology and biostatistics. Her academic background provides a multidisciplinary foundation for examining substance use through both quantitative and qualitative lenses.

Her research interests span substance use disorders (particularly cannabis, tobacco, and alcohol), mental health epidemiology, global health disparities, and the influence of social media on substance-related behaviors. Dr. Leung has conducted extensive research on substance use patterns across different demographic groups, including adolescents, people with mental health conditions, and populations in low- and middle-income countries. She has made significant contributions to understanding the epidemiology of cannabis use disorders, particularly among medicinal cannabis users, and has examined how social media platforms influence youth perceptions of substances.

Analysis of Dr. Leung's 15 most recent publications reveals a consistent focus on substance use epidemiology with increasing attention to digital health contexts. Her work demonstrates methodological diversity, employing systematic reviews, meta-analyses, cross-sectional studies, and novel causal inference approaches. Recent research shows growing emphasis on social media's role in substance use behaviors, particularly among youth, alongside continued investigation of traditional epidemiological patterns across global populations.

Dr. Leung has contributed to major global health initiatives including the Global Burden of Disease Study, demonstrating her involvement in large-scale collaborative research efforts that shape public health understanding worldwide. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy implications for substance use prevention and treatment.

As a Visiting Fellow at NDARC, Dr. Leung contributes to Australia's leading research institution dedicated to minimizing the health, social and economic impacts of alcohol and other drug misuse. Her position within this specialized research center allows her to focus on substance use epidemiology while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams addressing complex public health challenges.