Nhung Nguyen, PhD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Nguyen is a behavioral scientist whose research program focuses on reducing substance use and related health disparities among priority populations (e.g., youth and young adults, sexual minorities, people with substance use disorders). Her work provides actionable insights and novel solutions to reduce substance use, promote public well-being, and advance health equity. She has employed a variety of research methods (e.g., population-based surveys, daily diaries, ecological momentary assessments, longitudinal surveys, focus group, in-depth interviews, and mixed-methods studies). Her current projects focuses on applying mobile health technology and machine learning to address dual use of e-cigarette and cigarette as well as co-use of tobacco and cannabis among young populations. Dr. Nguyen directs the smartphone-based research lab on tobacco and substance use for health equity - the HEARTY lab.
Education
2022 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
PhD, 2014 - Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center
BS, 2008 - Pharmacy, Hanoi University of Pharmacy
Honors and Awards
  • Outstanding Abstract Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2023
  • Emerging Health Equity Scholar Award, UCSF Multiethnic Health Equity Research Center, 2023
  • NIDA Diversity Scholars Network Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021
  • Meritorious Abstract Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2021
  • mHealth Training Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 2021
  • T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Cancer Institute, 2018-2020
  • International Fellowship, American Association of University Women, 2012
  • Predoctoral Fellowship, Vietnam Education Foundation, 2010-2012
Websites
Publications

  1. Nguyen N, Peyser ND, Olgin JE, Pletcher MJ, Beatty AL, Modrow MF, Carton TW, Khatib R, Djibo DA, Ling PM, Marcus GM.. Associations between tobacco and cannabis use and anxiety and depression among adults in the United States: Findings from the COVID-19 citizen science study. PloS one 2023. PMID: 37703257


  2. Chambers J, Keyhani S, Ling PM, Hoggatt KJ, Hasin D, Nguyen N, Woods A, Ryder A, Cohen BE.. Perceptions of Safety of Daily Cannabis vs Tobacco Smoking and Secondhand Smoke Exposure, 2017-2021. JAMA network open 2023. PMID: 37566411


  3. Nguyen N, Holmes LM, Pravosud V, Cohen BE, Ling PM.. Changes in perceived harms of tobacco and cannabis and their correlations with use: A panel study of young adults 2014-2020. Addictive behaviors 2023. PMID: 37263178


  4. Nguyen N, Koester KA, Kim M, Watkins SL, Ling PM.. "I'm both smoking and vaping": a longitudinal qualitative study of US young adults who tried to quit smoking cigarettes by using electronic cigarettes. Tobacco control 2023. PMID: 37072166


  5. Nguyen N, Thrul J, Neilands TB, Ling PM.. Associations Between Product Type and Intensity of Tobacco and Cannabis Co-use on the Same Day Among Young Adult Smokers: Smartphone-Based Daily-Diary Study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth 2023. PMID: 36806440


  6. Nguyen N, Wong M, Delucchi K, Halpern-Felsher B.. Adolescents' and young adults' perceptions of risks and benefits differ by type of cannabis products. Addictive behaviors 2022. PMID: 35436697


  7. Nguyen N, Keyhani S, Ling PM, Hoggatt KJ, Hasin D, Cohen BE.. Self-reported Changes in Cannabis Use Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic among US Adults. Journal of psychoactive drugs 2022. PMID: 35356866


  8. Nguyen N, Mathur Gaiha S, Halpern-Felsher B.. Self-reported changes in cannabis vaping among US adolescents and young adults early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Preventive medicine reports 2021. PMID: 34976701


  9. Nguyen N, Neilands TB, Lisha NE, Lyu JC, Olson SS, Ling PM.. Longitudinal Associations Between Use of Tobacco and Cannabis Among People Who Smoke Cigarettes in Real-world Smoking Cessation Treatment. Journal of addiction medicine 2021. PMID: 34619713


  10. Nguyen N, Kapiteni K, Straus ER, Guydish J.. Factors associated with dual and polytobacco use among people in residential substance use disorder treatment. The American journal on addictions 2021. PMID: 34427005


  11. Thrul J, Gubner NR, Nguyen N, Nguyen C, Goodell EA, Holmes LM, Vandrey RG, Ling PM.. Perceived reward from using cigarettes with alcohol or cannabis and concurrent use: A smartphone-based daily diary study. Addictive behaviors 2020. PMID: 33307406


  12. Nguyen N, Holmes LM, Kim M, Ling PM.. Using Peer Crowd Affiliation to Address Dual Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes among San Francisco Bay Area Young Adults: A Cross Sectional Study. International journal of environmental research and public health 2020. PMID: 33092106


  13. Nguyen N, McQuoid J, Neilands TB, Dermody SS, Holmes LM, Ling PM, Thrul J.. Same-day use of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis among sexual minority and heterosexual young adult smokers. Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors 2020. PMID: 32804517


  14. Nguyen N, Nguyen C, Thrul J.. Digital health for assessment and intervention targeting tobacco and cannabis co-use. Current addiction reports 2020. PMID: 33643768


  15. Le TT, Nguyen TTH, Nguyen C, Tran NH, Tran LA, Nguyen TB, Nguyen N, Nguyen HA.. Factors associated with spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting among healthcare professionals in Vietnam. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics 2019. PMID: 31486525


  16. Nguyen N, McKelvey K, Halpern-Felsher B.. Popular Flavors Used in Alternative Tobacco Products Among Young Adults. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2019. PMID: 31331543


  17. Nguyen N, Barrington-Trimis JL, Urman R, Cho J, McConnell R, Leventhal AM, Halpern-Felsher B.. Past 30-day co-use of tobacco and marijuana products among adolescents and young adults in California. Addictive behaviors 2019. PMID: 31357072


  18. Nguyen N, Lisha NE, Neilands TB, Jordan JW, Ling PM.. Differential Associations Between Anti-Tobacco Industry Attitudes and Intention to Quit Smoking Across Young Adult Peer Crowds. American journal of health promotion : AJHP 2019. PMID: 30754982


  19. Nguyen N, McQuoid J, Ramo D, Holmes LM, Ling PM, Thrul J.. Real-time predictors of smoking among sexual minority and heterosexual young adults: An ecological momentary assessment study. Drug and alcohol dependence 2018. PMID: 30212756


  20. Do HP, Nguyen LH, Thi Nguyen NP, Ngo C, Thi Nguyen HL, Le GT, Nguyen LK, Nguyen CT, Tran BX, Le HT, Vu TMT, Phan HTT, Tran TD, Latkin CA, Dunne MP.. Factors associated with nicotine dependence during methadone maintenance treatment: findings from a multisite survey in Vietnam. BMJ open 2017. PMID: 28716791


  21. Nguyen LH, Tran BX, Nguyen NP, Phan HT, Bui TT, Latkin CA.. Mobilization for HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Services in Vietnam: Clients' Risk Behaviors, Attitudes and Willingness to Pay. AIDS and behavior 2016. PMID: 26363790


  22. Tran BX, Nguyen LH, Do HP, Nguyen NP, Phan HT, Dunne M, Latkin C.. Motivation for smoking cessation among drug-using smokers under methadone maintenance treatment in Vietnam. Harm reduction journal 2015. PMID: 26518600


  23. Nguyen NT, Tran BX, Hwang LY, Markham CM, Swartz MD, Vidrine JI, Phan HT, Latkin CA, Vidrine DJ.. Effects of cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence on adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive patients in Vietnam. AIDS care 2015. PMID: 26461976


  24. Nguyen NT, Tran BX, Hwang LY, Markham CM, Swartz MD, Vidrine JI, Phan HT, Latkin CA, Vidrine DJ.. Motivation to quit smoking among HIV-positive smokers in Vietnam. BMC public health 2015. PMID: 25885342


  25. Nguyen NP, Tran BX, Hwang LY, Markham CM, Swartz MD, Phan HT, Nong VM, Nguyen CT, Nguyen AH, Latkin CA, Vidrine DJ.. Prevalence of cigarette smoking and associated factors in a large sample of HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Vietnam. PloS one 2015. PMID: 25723596


  26. Tran BX, Nguyen TV, Pham QD, Nguyen PD, Khuu NV, Nguyen NP, Bui DH, Thi Phan HT, Nguyen LT.. HIV infection, risk factors, and preventive services utilization among female sex workers in the Mekong Delta Region of Vietnam. PloS one 2014. PMID: 24475096


  27. Tran BX, Nguyen LT, Nguyen NP, Phan HT.. HIV voluntary testing and perceived risk among female sex workers in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Global health action 2013. PMID: 23866916


  28. Tran BX, Nguyen NP.. Patient satisfaction with HIV/AIDS care and treatment in the decentralization of services delivery in Vietnam. PloS one 2012. PMID: 23071611


  29. Tran BX, Nguyen N, Ohinmaa A, Duong AT, Nguyen LT, Van Hoang M, Vu PX, Veugelers PJ.. Prevalence and correlates of alcohol use disorders during antiretroviral treatment in injection-driven HIV epidemics in Vietnam. Drug and alcohol dependence 2012. PMID: 22749565