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A new health threat has emerged. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a serious cannabis vomiting disorder, is sending teens to the emergency room in record numbers according to reports. It’s a condition related to marijuana toxicity and it’s led to a more than 10 fold increase in ER visits among kids aged 21 and under.
A Surge in Cannabis ER Visits
Cannabis use is on the rise among teens and young adults in the US. And with it has come a surge in the number of cannabis related ER visits and hospitalizations in young people.
One particularly prevalent concern to ER physicians is a relatively little known condition called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or CHS.
CHS has increased by 49% each year from 2016 to 2023 among kids 13 to 21 years old. The number of CHS related emergency room visits per one million persons soared from just over 160 in 2016 to nearly 2,000 in 2023.
Normalizing Cannabis
Part of the reason for this uptick in cannabis use among teens could be the ease of access combined with the normalization of the drug that accompanies nationwide legalization movements.
Cannabis is increasingly thought to be harmless and so persons of all ages are turning to the drug in record numbers. But we often forget that there are still significant risks associated with using these products.
Since cannabis use is climbing among adolescents, researchers are finding decreased academic success and more adverse events. Even edible cannabis, once assumed to be an especially innocuous means of cannabis consumption, has been shown to pose particular mental and physical health threats to include an elevated risk of early onset heart disease.
Understanding Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
CHS isn’t commonly discussed or written about but it can cause frequent emergency room visits. So what is this syndrome?
CHS occurs when too much cannabis is ingested and patients experience nausea and vomiting so severe they require emergency medical care. What’s even more concerning is that care of the condition can be challenging, requiring clinicians to remain alert to the possibility of an underlying addiction when diagnosis and treating CHS.
More studies are needed to thoroughly understand both the short and long-term effects of cannabis use across the lifespan. These insights are essential to optimize patient care, support addiction prevention efforts and facilitate legislation that responses to grassroots legalization efforts while maintaining community safety.
Cannabis addiction doesn’t have to jeopardize your health or steal your future. Freedom from dependency is possible.
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