Nhung Nguyen, PhD, PharmD

Assistant Professor

Dr. Nguyen is a substance use researcher whose work centers on reducing the co-use of tobacco and cannabis. Her research program employs innovative methods to address critical questions related to substance use, including ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and sensors for real-time data collection and human-centered design (HCD) to develop smartphone-based interventions. Her current projects harness mobile health (mHealth) technologies, wearable devices, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and implementation science to create and test interventions aimed at helping young people quit vaping and reduce co-use of tobacco and cannabis. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services, and the Hellman Fellowship Program.

Dr. Nguyen founded the HEARTY Lab, which is dedicated to generating actionable insights and impactful solutions to reduce substance use and promote public health.

A dedicated mentor, Dr. Nguyen has guided trainees across all levels, including high school students, undergraduates, PhD students, medical students, and postdoctoral fellows.

Education
2023 - Innovations for Substance Use Disorders, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
2021 - mHealth Training Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
PhD, 2014 - Epidemiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
BS, 2008 - Pharmacy, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Vietnam
Honors and Awards
  • DigiStars Scholar, University of Utah Digital Health Initiative, 2025
  • Hellman Fellowship, Hellman Fellows Program, 2024
  • Research in Implementation Science for Equity (RISE) Fellowship, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2024
  • Diversity Institute for Emerging Leaders, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2024
  • 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
  • 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. Ling PM, JoanneLyu C, Lisha NE. Social media support groups for youth nicotine vaping cessation: a randomized clinical trial. American journal of preventive medicine 2026. PMID: 41724253


  2. Nguyen N, Leonard S, Byers AL, Austin PC, Krebs EE, Sandbrink F, Bravata DM, Keyhani S. Associations of Cannabis and Tobacco Use with Suicide Attempt, Suicide Death, and Overdose Death Among Veterans Prescribed Opioid Analgesics. American journal of preventive medicine 2026. PMID: 41692146


  4. Graham FJL, Pravosud V, Keyhani S, Hoggatt KJ, Ling P, Hasin D, Nguyen N, Cohen BE. The impact of cannabis co-use and cannabis use disorder on interest in and barriers to tobacco cessation. Addictive behaviors 2026. PMID: 41525756


  5. Han JJ, Desjardins MR, McQuoid J, Devkota J, Waring JJC, Lopez-Paguyo K, Nguyen N, Ling PM, Thrul J. Detecting spatiotemporal clusters of tobacco and cannabis use and co-use to inform smartphone-based interventions. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology 2025. PMID: 41343354


  6. Do VV, Núñez ER, Wilder FG, Nguyen N. Negative social determinants of health are linked to lung cancer screening underutilization. Lung cancer management 2025. PMID: 41191647


  8. Do VV, Ta Park VM, Nguyen N, Ling PM, Tzuang M, Nam B, Dougan MM, Meyer OL, Tsoh JY. Use of Cigarettes, Cannabis, and Alcohol Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Adults: Community-Based National Survey Analysis. JMIR public health and surveillance 2025. PMID: 40834431


  9. Do VV, Ling PM, Keyhani S, Marcus GM, Thrul J, Nguyen N. Real-Time Antecedents of Young Adults' Vaping and Co-Vaping of Nicotine and Cannabis: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. Journal of medical Internet research 2025. PMID: 40811772


  11. Regan T, Devkota J, McQuoid J, Lopez-Paguyo K, Nguyen N, Meacham MC, Ling PM, Thrul J. Real-time antecedents of cannabis use among young adults: An Ecological Momentary Assessment study. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology 2025. PMID: 40323845


  12. Halliday DM, Song AV, Nguyen N. E-cigarette and cannabis use among current and recently quit smokers: Co-use and Co-cessation. Addictive behaviors reports 2025. PMID: 40290632


  13. Nguyen N, Satterfield JM, Keyhani S, Marcus GM, Ling PM. Barriers and facilitators to nicotine and cannabis vaping cessation among young adults: a qualitative study using Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2025. PMID: 41325641


  14. Nguyen N, Keyhani S, Marcus GM, Do VV, Halliday DM, Herbst ED, Ling PM. Vaping nicotine and cannabis on the same occasion is linked to increased vaping consumption among young adults: A smartphone-based daily diary study. Drug and alcohol dependence 2024. PMID: 39644839


  15. Nguyen N, Leonard S, Cohen BE, Herbst ED, Hoggatt KJ, Keyhani S. Receipt of Smoking Cessation Medications and Smoking Abstinence Among Veterans Prescribed Opioid Analgesics With and Without Cannabis Use. Journal of general internal medicine 2024. PMID: 39528724


  16. Pravosud V, Glantz S, Keyhani S, Ling PM, Lempert LK, Hoggatt KJ, Hasin D, Nguyen N, Graham FJL, Cohen BE. Cannabis legalization and changes in cannabis and tobacco/nicotine use and co-use in a national cohort of U.S. adults during 2017-2021. The International journal on drug policy 2024. PMID: 39500225


  17. Graham FJL, Keyhani S, Ling P, Pravosud V, Nguyen N, Hasin D, Cohen BE. Changes in Sources of Information about the Risks and Benefits of Cannabis in a National Cohort of US Adults from 2017 - 2021. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs 2024. PMID: 39440660


  21. McQuoid J, Regan T, Devkota J, Cheney MK, Kumar V, Oehlers J, Lopez-Paguyo K, Nguyen N, Meacham MC, Ling PM, Thrul J. Situations and roles of cannabis versus cigarette use: Integrating ecological momentary assessment with qualitative mapping interviews. Health & place 2024. PMID: 39032204


  22. Do VV, Ling PM, Chaffee BW, Nguyen N. Concurrent Use of Tobacco and Cannabis and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in US Youths. JAMA network open 2024. PMID: 38958977


  24. Glantz SA, Nguyen N, Oliveira da Silva AL. Population-Based Disease Odds for E-Cigarettes and Dual Use versus Cigarettes. NEJM Evidence 2024. PMID: 38411454


  25. Lyu JC, Meacham MC, Nguyen N, Ramo D, Ling PM. Factors Associated With Abstinence Among Young Adult Smokers Enrolled in a Real-world Social Media Smoking Cessation Program. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 2024. PMID: 38366340


  26. Nguyen N, Islam S, Llanes KD, Koester KA, Ling PM. Classification of patterns of tobacco and cannabis co-use based on temporal proximity: A qualitative study among young adults. Addictive behaviors 2024. PMID: 38281461


  27. 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


  28. 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


  29. 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


  31. Nguyen N, Wong M, Delucchi K, Halpern-Felsher B. Adolescents' and young adults' perceptions of risks and benefits differ by type of cannabis products. Volume 131. Addictive behaviors 2022. PMID: 35436697


  32. 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. TO REMOVE 2022. PMID: 35356866


  33. 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. Volume 24. Preventive medicine reports 2021. PMID: 34976701


  34. 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


  35. Nguyen N, Kapiteni K, Straus ER, Guydish J. Factors associated with dual and polytobacco use among people in residential substance use disorder treatment. Volume 30 of Issue 5. The American journal on addictions 2021. PMID: 34427005


  36. 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


  37. 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


  38. 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


  39. Nguyen N, Nguyen C, Thrul J. Digital health for assessment and intervention targeting tobacco and cannabis co-use. Volume 7 of Issue 3. Current addiction reports 2020. PMID: 33643768


  40. 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. Volume 45 of Issue 1. Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics 2019. PMID: 31486525


  41. Nguyen N, McKelvey K, Halpern-Felsher B. Popular Flavors Used in Alternative Tobacco Products Among Young Adults. Volume 65 of Issue 2. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2019. PMID: 31331543


  42. 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. Volume 98. Addictive behaviors 2019. PMID: 31357072


  43. 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


  44. 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


  45. 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. Volume 7 of Issue 7. BMJ open 2017. PMID: 28716791


  46. 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. Volume 20 of Issue 4. AIDS and behavior 2016. PMID: 26363790


  47. 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. Volume 12. Harm reduction journal 2015. PMID: 26518600


  48. 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. Volume 28 of Issue 3. AIDS care 2015. PMID: 26461976


  49. 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. Volume 15. BMC public health 2015. PMID: 25885342


  50. 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. Volume 10 of Issue 2. PloS one 2015. PMID: 25723596


  51. 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. Volume 9 of Issue 1. PloS one 2014. PMID: 24475096


  52. 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. Volume 6. Global health action 2013. PMID: 23866916


  53. Tran BX, Nguyen NP. Patient satisfaction with HIV/AIDS care and treatment in the decentralization of services delivery in Vietnam. Volume 7 of Issue 10. PloS one 2012. PMID: 23071611


  54. 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. Volume 127 of Issue 1-3. Drug and alcohol dependence 2012. PMID: 22749565