Uncontrollable Vomiting Syndrome on the Rise: Warning Linked to Chronic Cannabis Use

A rare and unusual medical condition, known as Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), is escalating in the United States. The disorder is socially dubbed “scromiting” due to the combination of screaming and loud vomiting resulting from the severe, uncontrollable bouts of vomiting experienced by patients.

Clinical Presentation and Danger:

Patients with CHS, often habitual cannabis users (including adolescents), present to emergency rooms complaining of severe abdominal pain, nausea, and continuous vomiting that can last for hours.

• Hot Water Relief: A bizarre and near-universal feature of the syndrome is the patients’ reported use of scalding hot baths or showers as a form of self-treatment to ease their symptoms. The exact reason for this behavior remains unclear, but one theory suggests the distracting sensation of extreme heat interrupts the pain cycle.

• Risks: If treatment is delayed, the severe vomiting can lead to life-threatening complications, including electrolyte disturbances, shock, and organ failure.

• Diagnostic Complexity: Diagnosing CHS is often difficult, as physicians must perform numerous expensive tests (such as blood tests, urine tests, CT scans, upper GI endoscopy) to rule out other possible causes.

Research into the Disorder’s Paradox:

CHS first emerged on the medical scene in 2004 when Australian researchers documented 19 chronic marijuana users who experienced repeated episodes of abdominal pain and retching.

• The Paradox: Cannabinoids like THC are paradoxically known to relieve nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, creating a medical dilemma regarding why the same compound causes severe distress in CHS patients.

• Dosage Factor: One theory suggests that the drastic increase in THC potency in modern cannabis products (rising from around 4-5% in the 1990s to 15-20% currently) may be a contributing factor. However, it remains unclear why not all heavy users are affected by CHS.

Evidence of Escalation:

Data confirms CHS is a growing national problem:

• A 2020 study found nearly 1 in 5 people hospitalized for cyclical vomiting reported concurrent cannabis use.

• Following the legalization of recreational marijuana, a Colorado study found that reported cases of vomiting due to cannabis increased by about 29% between 2013 and 2018.

• A newer study (July 2025) showed that emergency room visits for adolescents (aged 13–21) nationwide increased more than 10-fold between 2016 and 2023.

To enable more accurate tracking, a U.S. federal committee and the World Health Organization (WHO) created R11.16, an official medical diagnosis code for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, in October 2025, which is expected to enhance future research accuracy.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/02/health/scromiting-marijuana-vomiting-syndrome-wellness