Emergency room visits related to “scromiting” and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) are increasing nationwide, especially among young adults, according to new research. CHS is a condition that can cause severe nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in people who use marijuana heavily or frequently.
“Scromiting” is a slang term sometimes used to describe the intense symptoms some patients experience — vomiting combined with severe pain that can lead to screaming. Researchers stress that CHS is more than a minor side effect of marijuana use and can result in serious health complications without proper treatment.
In a new study, University of Illinois Chicago researchers analyzed emergency department data from across the country. Between 2016 and 2022, roughly 100,000 suspected CHS cases were reported. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, annual CHS rates remained steady, but beginning in 2020, emergency department visits surged and have stayed elevated. Cannabis-related health problems overall also increased during this period.
Multiple studies in recent years point to a similar trend. A 2020 study found that nearly one in five people hospitalized for cyclical vomiting between 2005 and 2014 reported using cannabis. After Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, researchers documented more than 800,000 vomiting-related cannabis cases between 2013 and 2018, a jump of about 29%.
Emily’s Hope provided a treatment scholarship for a young woman who suffered from CHS in 2023. Addiction Medicine Psychiatrist and member of our Emily’s Hope Board of Directors, Dr. Hannah Statz DeVries, has also talked about the syndrome.
And a study published in July 2025 found emergency room visits for adolescents ages 13 to 21 increased more than tenfold between 2016 and 2023.
Researchers say the findings highlight the need for emergency clinicians and public health systems to be prepared for the growing health impacts associated with increased cannabis use.
