1,052-Person Survey Reveals Heavy Burden of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
A large survey of people with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome found high rates of ER visits, hospitalizations, and links to heavy daily use starting in adolescence.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 1,052 self-reported CHS sufferers, the majority reported frequent cannabis use and significant healthcare utilization including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Heavy daily use and adolescent-onset use were associated with more frequent CHS episodes.
Key Numbers
1,052 participants surveyed. Majority reported frequent cannabis use, significant ER visits and hospitalizations. Heavy daily use and adolescent onset linked to more episodes.
How They Did This
Internet-based survey of 1,052 individuals from an online CHS support group, assessing cannabis use patterns, episode frequency, and healthcare utilization.
Why This Research Matters
CHS is still widely underrecognized by both users and clinicians. This large survey quantifies the real-world burden and identifies heavy use and early initiation as key risk factors.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis potency and availability increase, CHS is becoming more common. It remains frequently misdiagnosed, leading to repeated costly ER visits before correct identification.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-selected online support group sample likely skews toward more severe cases. Self-reported CHS diagnosis without medical verification. Cannot establish causal direction between use patterns and CHS.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the true population prevalence of CHS among heavy cannabis users?
- ?Can early intervention reduce the cycle of repeated ER visits?
- ?Is there a dose threshold that triggers CHS?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 1,052 CHS sufferers reported high ER utilization and hospitalizations
- Evidence Grade:
- Large sample provides useful descriptive data, but self-selected online cohort and lack of medical verification limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2025 survey capturing current CHS burden in an online support community.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey.
- Published In:
- Annals of emergency medicine, 85(6), 521-525 (2025)
- Authors:
- Meltzer, Andrew C(2), Morrison, Callen, Loganathan, Aditya(2), Shahamatdar, Soroush, Moon, Alice, Heidish, Ryan, Makutonin, Michael, Ma, Yan, Li, Runjia, Cooper, Ziva D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07117
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
CHS causes recurrent severe vomiting and abdominal pain in people who use cannabis heavily over long periods. It often leads to repeated ER visits before being correctly diagnosed.
Who is most at risk for CHS?
This survey found heavy daily cannabis users and those who started using in adolescence had more frequent CHS episodes, suggesting both dose and early initiation matter.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07117APA
Meltzer, Andrew C; Morrison, Callen; Loganathan, Aditya; Shahamatdar, Soroush; Moon, Alice; Heidish, Ryan; Makutonin, Michael; Ma, Yan; Li, Runjia; Cooper, Ziva D. (2025). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey.. Annals of emergency medicine, 85(6), 521-525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2025.01.008
MLA
Meltzer, Andrew C, et al. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Disease Burden: An Internet-Based Survey.." Annals of emergency medicine, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2025.01.008
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Is Associated With High Dis..." RTHC-07117. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/meltzer-2025-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-is
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.