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Hospital visits from condition linked to frequent marijuana use on the rise, CDC study says
WIBW • • health
Key Points:
- Hospital emergency room visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a condition causing severe nausea and vomiting in frequent marijuana users, increased by 16% from October 2023 to May 2024 following the introduction of a specific diagnosis code.
- The new diagnostic code, implemented last fall, has improved tracking and revealed the syndrome was previously underdiagnosed due to lack of awareness and coding challenges.
- The condition primarily affects frequent marijuana smokers and is characterized by recurring nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and intense abdominal pain, with an estimated 2.75 million Americans affected annually.
- The largest increases in diagnoses were among people aged 15 to 24, teenage girls and women, Black Americans, and American Indian and Alaska Native populations, highlighting the need for targeted awareness and research.
- Researchers emphasize the importance of studying the impact of high-potency THC and hemp-derived products, especially those popular among younger users, to better understand the syndrome’s rise and effects.
