Three deaths linked to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
Three young adults with histories of chronic cannabis use and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) died, with CHS attributed as the cause of death in two of the three cases.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A 27-year-old female, 27-year-old male, and 31-year-old male with histories of cyclical nausea, vomiting, chronic cannabis use, and negative workups all died. CHS was determined to be the cause of death in two cases and a contributing factor in the third.
Key Numbers
3 deaths reported. All decedents were ages 27-31. All had postmortem blood positive for THC. CHS was the attributed cause of death in 2 of 3 cases.
How They Did This
Case report of three forensic cases, including clinical history, postmortem toxicology revealing THC in blood, and autopsy findings.
Why This Research Matters
CHS is often dismissed as uncomfortable but not dangerous. These cases demonstrate that in rare circumstances, CHS can be fatal, underscoring the importance of recognizing it early in emergency settings.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis use increases, CHS cases are rising. While most episodes resolve with cessation, fatal outcomes, though rare, highlight that severe CHS requires serious medical attention.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Case reports cannot establish prevalence or risk factors. Only three cases were described, and the exact mechanism of death in CHS remains unclear.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the mechanism by which CHS leads to death?
- ?How common are fatal CHS cases relative to total CHS diagnoses?
- ?Are there warning signs that distinguish life-threatening CHS episodes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CHS attributed as cause of death in 2 of 3 cases
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: case report of three individuals with no control group or population-level data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Reports of Fatal Cases.
- Published In:
- Journal of forensic sciences, 64(1), 270-274 (2019)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02206
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
CHS is a condition affecting chronic cannabis users characterized by repeated episodes of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It often includes compulsive hot bathing behavior and typically resolves only with cannabis cessation.
How rare are fatal CHS cases?
Fatal CHS cases are considered very rare, but exact numbers are unknown. CHS is likely underdiagnosed, meaning some deaths may go unattributed.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- 420-sober-survival-guide
- CBT-cannabis-recovery
- THC-potency-increase-over-time
- cannabis-harm-reduction-opioids-alcohol-replacement
- cannabis-legalization-effects-health-data
- cannabis-relapse-cycle-pattern
- cannabis-tolerance-break-guide
- cold-turkey-vs-taper-quit-weed
- dating-sober-after-quitting-weed
- exercise-quitting-weed-anxiety-brain
- grieving-quitting-weed-loss
- help-someone-quit-weed
- how-to-cut-back-on-weed-moderation
- how-to-quit-weed
- journaling-weed-withdrawal
- marijuana-anonymous-SMART-recovery-compare
- meditation-mindfulness-weed-withdrawal
- microdosing-cannabis-benefits
- partner-still-smokes-weed
- partner-still-smokes-weed-quitting
- pink-cloud-sobriety-cannabis
- quit-weed-cold-turkey
- quit-weed-or-cut-back-which-is-better
- quit-weed-regret-went-back
- quitting-weed-20s
- quitting-weed-30s
- quitting-weed-after-years
- quitting-weed-during-crisis-divorce-job-loss
- quitting-weed-exercise
- quitting-weed-grief-loss-coping
- quitting-weed-legal-state
- quitting-weed-success-stories
- quitting-weed-triggers-environment
- relapsed-smoking-weed-what-to-do
- relapsed-weed
- safer-cannabis-use-guidelines
- should-i-quit-weed
- sober-music-festival-concert-without-weed
- sober-october-weed
- supplements-weed-withdrawal
- telling-friends-quitting-weed
- tolerance-break-weed
- weed-for-opioid-withdrawal
- weed-relapse-prevention-plan
- weed-relapse-why-it-happens
- weed-ritual-replacement
- weed-ruined-relationships
- weed-social-media-triggers-quit
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02206APA
Nourbakhsh, Mahra; Miller, Angela; Gofton, Jeff; Jones, Graham; Adeagbo, Bamidele. (2019). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Reports of Fatal Cases.. Journal of forensic sciences, 64(1), 270-274. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13819
MLA
Nourbakhsh, Mahra, et al. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Reports of Fatal Cases.." Journal of forensic sciences, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13819
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Reports of Fatal Cases." RTHC-02206. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/nourbakhsh-2019-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-reports
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.