US Cannabis Emergency Department Visits Increased 12% Annually from 2006 to 2014
Nationwide US data showed cannabis-related ER visits rose an average of 12.1% annually from 2006-2014, with continued increases after 2016, particularly among females, children under 14, and the Midwest region.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis-associated ER visits increased from 12.3 to 34.7 per 100,000 from 2006-2014 (12.1% annual increase). Rates continued rising 17.3% from 2016-2017 and 11.1% from 2017-2018. The Midwest saw the largest regional increase (36.8%). Female visit rates increased faster than male rates (15.9% vs 8.7%).
Key Numbers
Rate rose from 12.3 to 34.7 per 100,000 (2006-2014). Average annual increase: 12.1%. 2016-2017: +17.3%. 2017-2018: +11.1%. Female increase: 15.9% (2017-2018). Midwest: +36.8%. Ages 0-14 and 25+ showed significant increases.
How They Did This
Analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from HCUP, covering cannabis-associated ER visits 2006-2018. JoinPoint analysis for trends. Z-tests for annual rate changes. Examined by age, sex, region, and visit characteristics.
Why This Research Matters
ER visits are a concrete, measurable indicator of cannabis-related harm at the population level. The sustained increases across multiple demographics and regions suggest a growing public health burden that parallels expanding cannabis availability.
The Bigger Picture
The pediatric increases (ages 0-14) are particularly alarming and likely reflect accidental edible ingestions. The Midwest surge may reflect market expansion into new regions. Together, these trends argue for prevention strategies alongside cannabis policy reform.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
ICD coding changes in 2015 created a discontinuity, requiring separate analysis periods. "Cannabis-associated" includes visits where cannabis is mentioned but may not be the primary reason. Increased ER coding of cannabis could reflect awareness rather than true incidence increases.
Questions This Raises
- ?What proportion of the increase is driven by edible products versus smoked cannabis?
- ?Have specific state legalization events caused detectable ER visit spikes?
- ?Would mandatory product safety standards reduce pediatric exposures?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 12.1% average annual increase in cannabis ER visits (2006-2014)
- Evidence Grade:
- Strong: nationwide ER data from a standardized federal database covering 12 years.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022, covering 2006-2018.
- Original Title:
- Trends and characteristics of cannabis-associated emergency department visits in the United States, 2006-2018.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 232, 109288 (2022)
- Authors:
- Roehler, Douglas R(9), Hoots, Brooke E(2), Holland, Kristin M(2), Baldwin, Grant T, Vivolo-Kantor, Alana M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04179
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are more people going to the ER because of cannabis?
Yes. National data show cannabis-related ER visits have been rising steadily since at least 2006, with the rate nearly tripling from 12.3 to 34.7 per 100,000 by 2014 and continuing to rise.
Why are children showing up in the ER for cannabis?
Pediatric exposures are likely driven by accidental ingestion of cannabis edibles, which can look like candy or regular food. This is a known risk as edible products become more available.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04179APA
Roehler, Douglas R; Hoots, Brooke E; Holland, Kristin M; Baldwin, Grant T; Vivolo-Kantor, Alana M. (2022). Trends and characteristics of cannabis-associated emergency department visits in the United States, 2006-2018.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 232, 109288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109288
MLA
Roehler, Douglas R, et al. "Trends and characteristics of cannabis-associated emergency department visits in the United States, 2006-2018.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109288
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends and characteristics of cannabis-associated emergency ..." RTHC-04179. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/roehler-2022-trends-and-characteristics-of
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.