Doctors Warn of “Scromiting” as Severe Cannabis-Linked Illness Sends More Users to Emergency Rooms
A Growing Medical Concern Emerges
Health professionals are drawing attention to a serious condition associated with cannabis use that has been leading increasing numbers of people to emergency departments across the United States.
The condition, known as Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), is characterized by repeated episodes of intense nausea, persistent vomiting, and severe abdominal pain. In many cases, the symptoms become so overwhelming that patients require urgent medical care.
What has captured public attention is a term commonly used by medical workers and patients alike: “scromiting.” The unusual nickname combines screaming and vomiting, reflecting the extreme discomfort experienced during an episode.
Although cannabis is often associated with reducing nausea in some situations, doctors say a growing number of users are experiencing the opposite effect after prolonged or repeated use.
Over the last decade, hospitals have reported a noticeable increase in patients arriving with symptoms that can be difficult to diagnose at first. Many sufferers undergo multiple emergency room visits before the underlying cause is identified.
What Is Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome?
CHS is a condition linked to cannabis use that can trigger recurring cycles of severe gastrointestinal distress.
Patients commonly experience intense nausea accompanied by repeated vomiting episodes and significant stomach pain. The symptoms can be debilitating, interfering with daily life and often requiring medical intervention.
Episodes typically develop within 24 hours after cannabis consumption and may continue for several days before easing.
Because the illness often appears intermittently, identifying the cause can be challenging. Some individuals may go months between episodes, leading them to believe the symptoms were caused by another factor.
This pattern frequently delays diagnosis and treatment.
Medical experts note that many patients return to emergency departments repeatedly before receiving an accurate explanation for their condition.
Dr. Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, highlighted the impact of these repeated visits.
“A person often will have multiple [emergency department] visits until it is correctly recognized, costing thousands of dollars each time.”
The Origin of the Term “Scromiting”
The severity of CHS symptoms has led healthcare workers to adopt a nickname that reflects the experience of many patients.
“Scromiting” refers to the combination of screaming and vomiting that can occur during particularly intense episodes.
Patients frequently report abdominal pain so severe that they struggle to stand upright. The repeated vomiting can become relentless, causing dehydration, exhaustion, and significant physical distress.
For some individuals, the pain and discomfort become overwhelming, leading to vocal reactions that inspired the term.
While the nickname may sound unusual, medical professionals stress that the condition itself is very real and can have serious consequences.
The symptoms are often severe enough to disrupt work, school, and normal daily activities.
In some cases, repeated episodes result in multiple hospital visits over several years.
Challenges in Treating the Condition
One of the most difficult aspects of CHS is the limited number of effective treatment options currently available.
Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency medicine specialist, explained that managing the illness can be particularly challenging.
“There are currently no therapies approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and standard anti-nausea medications often don’t work.”
Because commonly used medications frequently fail to provide relief, healthcare providers sometimes rely on alternative approaches to ease symptoms.
Among the methods used are hot showers and hot baths, which many patients report as temporarily helpful.
Some physicians also use capsaicin cream, applied to the stomach area, in an effort to reduce discomfort.
In certain situations, Haldol, a medication more commonly associated with treating psychotic episodes, may also be considered.
These approaches do not cure the condition, but they may help alleviate symptoms during an acute episode.
The unusual effectiveness of hot water exposure has become one of the most recognizable signs linked to CHS.
The Clue That Helps Doctors Identify CHS
According to emergency medicine specialists, a patient’s relationship with hot showers can provide an important diagnostic clue.
Many individuals experiencing CHS report temporary relief after standing under very hot water.
For some, the relief becomes so significant that they repeatedly seek hot showers throughout the day while symptoms persist.
Dr. Buresh described how this pattern can help point doctors toward the diagnosis.
“That’s something that can clinch the diagnosis for me, when someone says they’re better with a hot shower,” Buresh said.
The behavior can become extreme in certain cases.
“Patients describe going through all the hot water in their house.”
This unusual response has become one of the most commonly recognized characteristics of the syndrome.
Why the Condition Keeps Returning
One of the frustrating aspects of CHS is that symptoms often return when cannabis use continues.
Even after a patient recovers from an episode, another attack may develop in the future if cannabis consumption resumes.
Medical experts emphasize that stopping cannabis use remains the only known way to completely eliminate the condition.
Unfortunately, many individuals do not immediately connect their symptoms to cannabis.
Because attacks occur intermittently, some users conclude that the illness must have been caused by food, stress, infection, or another unrelated issue.
As a result, they continue using cannabis and eventually experience another episode.
Dr. Carlini warned that this misunderstanding can prolong the cycle of illness.
“Because the syndrome strikes intermittently, some cannabis users assume a recent episode was unrelated and continue using — only to become severely ill again.”
The repeated nature of the condition often leads to ongoing medical expenses and recurring emergency department visits.
Scientists Continue Searching for Answers
Although awareness of CHS has increased significantly, researchers are still working to understand exactly why some cannabis users develop the syndrome while others do not.
The leading explanation focuses on the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating numerous physiological functions, including nausea and vomiting.
Scientists believe that excessive stimulation of this system may eventually disrupt its normal function in certain individuals.
Rather than preventing nausea, the system may begin contributing to it.
Researchers continue to investigate the biological mechanisms involved and why susceptibility appears to vary from person to person.
Dr. Buresh noted that individual vulnerability seems to differ widely.
“It seems like there’s a threshold when people can become vulnerable to this condition, and that threshold is different for everyone. Even using in small amounts can make these people start throwing up.”
This variation makes it difficult to predict who might develop CHS.
Research Highlights Potential Risk Factors
A study conducted by George Washington University examined more than 1,000 individuals diagnosed with CHS.
The findings suggested a strong connection between emergency room visits and patterns of cannabis use that begin early in life and continue over extended periods.
The research adds to growing evidence that prolonged exposure may increase the likelihood of experiencing the syndrome.
Investigators continue exploring how factors such as frequency of use, age of initiation, and individual biological differences may contribute to risk.
While important questions remain unanswered, the findings have helped healthcare professionals better understand the populations most commonly affected.
The study also reinforced concerns about the increasing number of cases being reported nationwide.
Sharp Rise Among Adolescents Raises Concern
One of the most alarming trends involves younger cannabis users.
Data referenced by researchers showed that adolescent cases of CHS in the United States increased by more than ten times between 2016 and 2023.
The rise has drawn particular concern because of the potential impact on developing individuals and the growing number of young patients seeking emergency care.
Interestingly, patterns differed across states.
Overall CHS cases were more frequently observed in states where cannabis is legal.
However, among younger users, the most rapid increases occurred in states where recreational cannabis remains illegal.
The reasons behind this pattern are still being examined.
Researchers continue studying how access, usage behaviors, and other factors may influence the distribution of cases.
The findings highlight the importance of awareness among both adults and adolescents who use cannabis.
Official Recognition Marks a Significant Milestone
Awareness of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome reached an important milestone when the World Health Organization formally recognized the condition.
On October 1, 2025, CHS received an official diagnostic code.
The addition represents an important step for healthcare providers, researchers, and public health officials seeking to better understand the condition.
Formal recognition allows for improved tracking of cases and may help generate more reliable data regarding the prevalence and impact of the syndrome.
Dr. Carlini emphasized the importance of this development.
“A new code for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome will supply important hard evidence on cannabis-adverse events, which physicians tell us is a growing problem.”
Medical professionals hope that standardized reporting will contribute to improved diagnosis, research efforts, and public awareness.
Experts Encourage Greater Awareness
As emergency room visits linked to CHS continue to rise, doctors are urging cannabis users to become familiar with the symptoms and warning signs.
Severe nausea, repeated vomiting, intense abdominal pain, and a tendency to seek relief through hot showers may indicate the presence of the syndrome.
Recognizing the condition early may help prevent repeated episodes and unnecessary emergency visits.
Healthcare providers stress that continued cannabis use can trigger recurring attacks, making long-term recovery difficult without abstinence.
While researchers continue searching for answers regarding why some users are affected and others are not, the message from medical experts remains clear.
CHS is a real and potentially debilitating condition that can dramatically impact quality of life.
With growing recognition, increasing case numbers, and expanding research efforts, awareness of “scromiting” and Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome is becoming an increasingly important part of the broader conversation surrounding cannabis use.