Cannabis-related emergency department visits increased 7% annually from 2006 to 2014
Cannabis-associated ED visits in the US increased by 7% annually from 2006-2014, with the highest rates among 12-17 year-olds and uninsured patients.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis-associated ED visits increased monotonically at 7% per year. Ages 12-17 had the highest risk, declining with age. Uninsured patients were over 40% more likely to visit the ED than privately insured. The South region had the highest utilization, but the West showed the fastest growth (15.4% to 26% over the study period).
Key Numbers
265,128 cannabis-associated ED visits analyzed. 7% annual increase. Ages 12-17 highest risk. Uninsured 40%+ more likely to visit. West region grew from 15.4% to 26%.
How They Did This
Pooled serial cross-sectional study using 2006-2014 National Emergency Department Sample data. Hierarchical multivariable analysis of 265,128 cannabis-associated ED visits among patients aged 12+.
Why This Research Matters
Even before widespread legalization, cannabis ED visits were steadily rising. This provides a baseline for understanding how subsequent policy changes (legalization in many states after 2012) may have accelerated or moderated this trend.
The Bigger Picture
The steady increase predates most recreational legalization, suggesting that liberalizing attitudes, increasing potency, and changing demographics were already driving ED visits upward.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
National Emergency Department Sample relies on coding accuracy. "Cannabis-associated" does not mean cannabis caused the visit. Could not distinguish primary from incidental cannabis involvement.
Questions This Raises
- ?Has the rate continued to accelerate after recreational legalization?
- ?Are these visits primarily for acute intoxication, psychiatric events, or medical conditions?
- ?Would better outpatient cannabis resources reduce ED burden?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 7% annual increase in cannabis-related ED visits
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: large national dataset with multivariable analysis, but dependent on ED coding accuracy.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Trends and Related Factors of Cannabis-Associated Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2006-2014.
- Published In:
- Journal of addiction medicine, 13(3), 193-200 (2019)
- Authors:
- Shen, Jay J(3), Shan, Guogen, Kim, Pearl C, Yoo, Ji Won, Dodge-Francis, Carolee, Lee, Yong-Jae
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02291
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean cannabis is becoming more dangerous?
Not necessarily. Increasing ED visits could reflect more use, higher potency products, changing demographics, or more willingness to mention cannabis to healthcare providers. The data alone cannot determine causation.
Why are teenagers at highest risk?
Adolescents may be more susceptible to acute cannabis effects, more likely to use in risky contexts, and less experienced with dosing. They may also be more likely to seek emergency care for cannabis-related anxiety or panic.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02291APA
Shen, Jay J; Shan, Guogen; Kim, Pearl C; Yoo, Ji Won; Dodge-Francis, Carolee; Lee, Yong-Jae. (2019). Trends and Related Factors of Cannabis-Associated Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2006-2014.. Journal of addiction medicine, 13(3), 193-200. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000479
MLA
Shen, Jay J, et al. "Trends and Related Factors of Cannabis-Associated Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2006-2014.." Journal of addiction medicine, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000479
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Trends and Related Factors of Cannabis-Associated Emergency ..." RTHC-02291. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/shen-2019-trends-and-related-factors
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.