Tina Lam

Dr Tina Lam is a Research Fellow at the Monash Addiction Research Centre (MARC). She specialises in conducting policy and practice relevant alcohol and other drug research that will improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians.

Dr Lam is chief investigator and national coordinator for the Young Australians Alcohol Reporting System (YAARS). YAARS is run through the National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University (WA) in collaboration with Turning Point (Monash University; VIC), the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (University of NSW), the University of Tasmania, Flinders University (SA), ACT Health, Charles Darwin University (NT), and the University of Queensland. YAARS was conducted in 2013 (n=958), 2016 (n=727), and 2016-17 (n=3,465) to examine patterns, influences and trends around risky adolescent alcohol consumption. YAARS was cited three times in the consultation draft of the National Alcohol Strategy 2018-2026. 

Dr Lam also examines trends in heroin and pharmaceutical opioid related harms in Australia. She was the state coordinator for the Patient Pathways project which examined treatment pathways and related outcomes of 800 clients seeking alcohol and other drug treatment at 20 services across VIC and WA. The evidence from this longitudinal study has been used to help shape strategy and decision-making around funding, service expansion and system innovation.

Dr Lam was also a state coordinator for the Patron offending and Intoxication in Night Time Entertainment Districts (‘POINTED’) project, which focused on alcohol-related violence and yielded the largest sample of people attending licensed venues ever interviewed (n=6804).

Tina's PhD explored alcohol and other drug use at school leavers' celebrations ('Schoolies'). The project was recognised with a McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth award for providing the first quantity-specific estimations of alcohol use at the event, and its real-life impact on the planning of the celebrations.

Dr Lam contributes to the policy debate at all three levels of government and is regularly quoted on alcohol-related issues in the media.

She is an active contributor to programs aimed at supporting diversity and building equality such as the Science in Australia Gender Equity Athena Swan national program.