James Swartz, professor at UIC, on the rise of scromiting: “Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is real”
Long-terms cannabis use is causing a steep rise in hospital visits.
In recent years, doctors in the United States have noticed a sharp increase in emergency room visits related to long-term cannabis use, and a new study shows one particular condition is becoming more common.
That condition is Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), which in its most severe episodes causes what’s been nicknamed “scromiting.”
CHS involves repeated cycles of nausea, abdominal pain, and intense vomiting that may stretch on for hours or even days. The term “scromiting” (a moxture of screaming and vomiting) was coined because sufferers sometimes cry out in pain while being violently sick.
A team led by researchers at University of Illinois Chicago analysed data from 2016 to 2022, looking at emergency-room admissions across the U.S. They found that suspected CHS cases rose steeply starting in 2020. “Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is real, and it’s becoming a more routine part of emergency medicine in the U.S.,” James Swartz, a professor at UIC’s Jane Addams College of Social Work, and lead author of the study, told Gizmodo. “Our findings shouldn’t be interpreted as a reason to panic, but they do reinforce that cannabis is not risk-free, especially at higher doses and with long-term, heavy use.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic likely catalysed the rise in CHS”
While diagnoses dipped a little by 2022, they remained well above pre-pandemic levels. Overall, the study estimates about 100,000 suspected CHS cases over that period.
“The COVID-19 pandemic likely catalysed the rise in CHS through stress, isolation, and increased cannabis use,” the study said. “After peaking in 2021, CHS incidence declined but plateaued above pre-pandemic levels, suggesting sustained structural or clinical drivers.”
Despite how frightening it sounds, CHS is not a mysterious, untreatable condition. Temporary relief during a flare-up often comes from hot showers or baths, or applying warming creams.
However, the only known way to stop recurring bouts is to quit cannabis use. For most people who stop, symptoms tend to fade within weeks.
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“Given frequent misdiagnosis and costly, unnecessary testing, greater clinical awareness is needed,” the authors explained. Heavy or frequent cannabis consumers, especially those using high-potency products over many years, should be informed of this risk. And if someone begins experiencing persistent, unexplained vomiting or nausea, medical help should not be delayed.
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