Teen Scromiting: Understanding Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents

If your teenager has been experiencing episodes of uncontrollable vomiting, screaming in pain, and spending hours in hot showers, you may be dealing with something far more serious than a stomach bug.

The term “scromiting” has entered the vocabulary of emergency room doctors, parents, and teens alike, and it describes a condition that is becoming alarmingly common.

Here is what every parent needs to know about this growing health crisis and what can be done about it.

Quick Takeaways

• “Scromiting” is slang for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition in which adolescents with heavy, long-term marijuana use experience cycles of severe nausea, screaming, and vomiting that can lead to emergency hospitalization.
• CHS has become more common as THC levels in marijuana, vapes, and edibles have risen dramatically. Emergency department visits for adolescent CHS have increased more than tenfold since 2016.
• The only proven long-term solution is stopping cannabis use entirely. Hot showers or hot baths provide only temporary relief and can sometimes cause burns or skin damage.
• Many teens use cannabis to cope with underlying mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or trauma, which means effective treatment must address both the substance use and the root causes driving it.
• Artemis Adolescent Healing Center helps families by treating the physical crisis alongside the mental health and substance use concerns that keep the cycle going.

What Is Teen Scromiting? (Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome)

The term scromiting combines the terms “screaming” and “vomiting” and reflects a painful condition that has become increasingly common among teenagers who use cannabis heavily. Medically, this is known as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome CHS, a recognized diagnosis first described in the medical literature in 2004.

CHS is paradoxical. Cannabis use can paradoxically lead to nausea in some individuals, even though the drug is sometimes prescribed to reduce nausea in other medical settings like chemotherapy. With chronic, heavy use, the antiemetic effect reverses, triggering episodes of persistent nausea and severe vomiting instead.

The condition typically appears in mid-to-late teenagers. The average age of teens with CHS is 17 years old, and most affected adolescents report daily or near-daily cannabis consumption for at least several months before symptoms begin.

Since October 1, 2025, CHS has had its own ICD-10 diagnostic code (R11.16), now used in the U.S. and recognized by the World Health Organization, making it easier for doctors to document and track.

How Common Is Scromiting in Teens Today?

Twenty years ago, CHS was considered rare. Today, emergency departments are seeing increased cases of CHS, especially among adolescents, and the numbers are climbing fast.

A major cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 13–21 published through the JAMA Network found that CHS-related ER visits rose from roughly 160 per million emergency department encounters in 2016 to nearly 1,968 per million in 2023, more than a tenfold increase. Many of these teens returned multiple times before anyone identified cannabis as the cause.

The scope of adolescent cannabis exposure helps explain the trend. In 2019, 37% of high school students reported using marijuana. More recently, 26% of 12th graders reported marijuana use in 2025. Among those who use cannabis most heavily, the prevalence of CHS-like symptoms is striking: 97% of those with CHS reported using marijuana weekly or more, and roughly one in six daily users in broader surveys report severe nausea, abdominal pain, or cyclical vomiting consistent with CHS.

CHS often goes unrecognized because its symptoms mimic common conditions. Teens may be tested for viruses, food poisoning, or other gastrointestinal tract disorders several times before anyone asks specifically about regular marijuana use. Increasing legalization and normalization of marijuana use, along with high-potency cannabis products, have contributed to the rising prevalence among young adults and adolescents.

Why High-THC Cannabis Raises the Risk

Modern cannabis is far stronger than what most parents remember. In the early 1990s, plant cannabis often contained around 4–5% THC. Today, dispensary flower routinely tests at 15–25% THC, and concentrates can be far higher. High-potency cannabis products increase the risk of developing CHS, and many teens do not realize how much THC they are actually consuming.

Teens using vape cartridges, “dab” concentrates, and edibles may unknowingly ingest hundreds of milligrams of THC per day. These delivery methods make it easy to consume far more than intended. In pediatric case reviews, adolescents with CHS averaged about 1.3 grams of cannabis per day, with 89% reporting daily use. The teenage brain is more vulnerable to the effects of high-potency THC products because it is still developing, which makes the risks of chronic overexposure especially concerning.

Here is how it works in simple terms: THC and other cannabinoids overstimulate CB1 receptors in the brain and gut over time, disrupting normal nausea and pain pathways. This chronic overstimulation also affects TRPV1 receptors involved in thermoregulation. Frequent cannabis use accelerates the likelihood of developing CHS, and teens using marijuana at least weekly are at higher risk for CHS. Researchers have also found that teens using marijuana regularly face higher risks of psychosis, not just CHS.

Not everyone who uses cannabis develops CHS. But daily or near-daily use for months to years is the pattern most strongly associated with the condition. 97% of those with scromiting used marijuana weekly, underscoring how tightly linked frequency is to risk.

What are the Symptoms of Teen Scromiting? What Parents Actually See

CHS usually develops in stages and can initially look like a recurring stomach flu or food poisoning before a full-blown scromiting episode strikes. Teens can develop CHS after three months of regular use, though many cases emerge after six months or longer.

During the hyperemetic phase, symptoms escalate dramatically. CHS symptoms include intense abdominal pain and cyclic vomiting episodes, often occurring every few minutes, along with retching even when the stomach is empty and visible distress or screaming.

Early warning signs parents should watch for include:

• Chronic morning nausea or persistent nausea that comes and goes
• Decreased appetite and unexplained weight loss (present in about 30% of adolescent cases)
• Frequent complaints like “my stomach always hurts”
• Increasing reliance on hot showers, especially at unusual times

Long term physical consequences of repeated episodes can include:

• Tooth decay and enamel erosion from stomach acid exposure
• Esophageal tears
• Severe dehydration and dangerous electrolyte imbalances
• Kidney strain or acute kidney injury

Behavioral and emotional signs also present during episodes: panic, fear of eating, exhaustion, irritability, and withdrawal from school and social life. These patterns often intensify as mental health strain increases with each cycle.

Why Hot Showers and Baths Seem to Help

Compulsive use of very hot showers or hot baths is considered a red flag symptom of cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. If your teen is suddenly taking multiple long, scalding showers per day, or waking at night to stand under hot water, this behavior should raise concern.

The pattern is consistent among patients. During a flare, adolescents often describe intense heat from the water as the only thing that brings relief. Researchers believe hot water activates TRPV1 receptors in the skin, which may temporarily override the brain’s nausea and vomiting signals or briefly reset body temperature regulation disrupted by chronic cannabinoid exposure. Topical capsaicin cream works through a similar pathway.

Hot showers may temporarily relieve CHS symptoms, but the relief is always temporary. Some adolescents have sustained burns or scalded skin from water that is far too hot, driven by desperation to stop the nausea and vomiting. Between 45–70% of CHS patients report that hot water helps, but symptoms almost always return as long as cannabis consumption continues.

How CHS Affects Teen Mental Health and Daily Life

The physical toll of scromiting episodes is obvious, but the emotional and social damage can be just as severe. Repeated cycles of severe vomiting, missed school days, and emergency room visits create a cascade of anxiety, depression, shame, and isolation for both the adolescent and the family.

In one pediatric cohort study, about 69% of teens diagnosed with CHS had at least one co-occurring psychiatric disorder, most commonly anxiety and depression. Cannabis use is often the teen’s attempt to cope with underlying mental health issues such as social anxiety, trauma, ADHD, mood disorders, or sleep problems. Regular marijuana use can lead to anxiety and depression in teens, creating a cycle where the substance used to self-medicate actually worsens the conditions it was meant to treat.

CHS can lead to school absenteeism, declining grades, withdrawal from activities, and strained relationships at home due to fear and conflict around substance use. From Artemis Adolescent Healing Center’s perspective, this is precisely why integrated treatment matters. Addressing the medical crisis alone is only half the work. Effective recovery requires treating co-occurring mental health concerns, rebuilding family communication, and replacing cannabis with healthier coping strategies.

Diagnosing Teen Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome

CHS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Doctors must first rule out other causes of vomiting before they can identify cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome as the culprit.

A typical emergency evaluation includes a physical exam, blood tests, urine tests, pregnancy test where appropriate, and imaging if needed to rule out surgical emergencies. Clinicians then look for a recognizable pattern:

• Recurrent episodes of severe vomiting
• Long term marijuana use (daily or near-daily for months)
• Relief with hot showers
• Symptom resolution after stopping cannabis

Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome can mimic cyclic vomiting syndrome or gastroenteritis, so honest discussion about marijuana use is essential for accurate diagnosis. Many teens underreport their cannabis use, and parents may not think to mention it.

If your child has been to the emergency room multiple times for unexplained vomiting, consider whether regular marijuana use could be a factor, and share your observations with medical staff. Frequency of use, showering habits, and a history of past ER visits are all critical data points that help doctors reach the right diagnosis faster.

Treatment: From Emergency Care to Stopping Cannabis Use

Treatment for CHS has two distinct parts: stabilizing the immediate medical crisis and helping the teen stop smoking marijuana for good.

In the emergency department, care focuses on IV fluids to correct severe dehydration, anti-nausea medications (though standard antiemetics are often less effective for CHS), pain management, and monitoring for complications like kidney injury or esophageal tears.

A recent adolescent case series found that IV haloperidol combined with lorazepam provided full relief for four of six teens treated, suggesting newer protocols may offer better acute symptom control. Some patients may need brief hospitalization if they cannot keep down fluids or show signs of significant medical compromise.

Stopping cannabis use is the only way to resolve CHS symptoms long-term. After cessation, symptoms usually resolve within days to weeks. But if use resumes, CHS almost always returns.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, follow-up care goes beyond the ER. Our treatment programs for marijuana addiction and dependence addresses cannabis use disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions through evidence-based therapy, family support, psychiatric care when indicated, and nutritional recovery for teens who have experienced weight loss.

This multidisciplinary approach yields far better long-term outcomes than emergency treatment alone.

Recognizing Signs of Teen Cannabis Use at Home

Many parents do not realize how frequently their child is using marijuana until a crisis like scromiting forces the issue. Learning to spot the warning signs early can make a meaningful difference.

Behavioral signs:

• Sudden secretiveness or defensiveness about their phone, room, or schedule
• Changes in friend groups or social circles
• Unexplained money issues or missing cash
• Irritability when not using, slipping grades, or school avoidance

Physical or environmental clues:

• Smell of cannabis on clothes or in their room
• Vape pens, cartridges, eye drops, lighters, rolling papers, or empty edible packages
• Frequent use of air fresheners or incense

Digital signs:

• Cannabis-related slang or icons in text messages
• Following marijuana-related accounts on social media

Try to view these signs as indicators of distress and possible dependence rather than simple rebellion. A calm, supportive conversation and professional guidance are almost always more effective than punishment.

Helping Your Teen Quit: Support, Treatment, and Recovery

Recovery from CHS and from cannabis use disorder is very possible with the right support. The road to getting there, however, often involves some discomfort. Stopping cannabis may initially increase anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, and cravings, which is why a structured plan and clinical oversight are so helpful.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center approaches care through comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment plans, evidence-based therapies, and coordinated medical and psychiatric oversight. Family therapy and psychoeducation play a central role, helping parents set boundaries, improve communication, and understand the health risks their teen is facing.

If you suspect your teen is experiencing scromiting or cannabis-related health problems, you do not have to navigate this alone. Reaching out to Artemis for a consultation is a strong first step toward helping your family find a path forward.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Scromiting

The questions below address concerns that come up frequently among parents and families dealing with CHS. Each answer is written in plain language to help you make informed decisions about your teen’s care.

How quickly do CHS symptoms improve after my teen stops cannabis?

Many teens feel significantly better within 24–72 hours once vomiting is medically managed and all cannabis use has stopped. However, residual nausea, fatigue, and appetite changes may linger for one to two weeks. Full confidence in eating, normal energy levels, and emotional stability often build gradually over several weeks. Clinical oversight during this period helps ensure any complications are caught early.

Can my teen just switch to “lower-dose” marijuana or CBD instead of quitting completely?

Current research does not support partial reduction or switching to lower-potency cannabis products as a reliable way to prevent hyperemesis syndrome CHS from returning. Complete cessation of all cannabis products, including vapes, edibles, and CBD products derived from cannabis, is the safest approach. This is especially important for adolescents whose brains are still developing and who face a higher risk of lasting effects from continued exposure to cannabinoids.

Is scromiting dangerous or just very uncomfortable?

While many teens recover fully with appropriate treatment, repeated episodes carry real medical danger. Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, acute kidney injury, and esophageal tears are all documented complications. Parents should seek emergency care immediately if their teen experiences nonstop vomiting, confusion, inability to drink fluids, blood in vomit, or extreme weakness. A study found that roughly 30% of adolescent CHS patients in one review had clinically significant weight loss.

Will my teen always be at risk of CHS once they’ve had it once?

Once a young person develops CHS, they are very likely to have symptoms recur if they return to cannabis use, even after a long break. If they remain abstinent from marijuana, CHS symptoms do not typically continue. Ongoing mental health support may still be needed, particularly if the teen was using cannabis to manage anxiety, depression, or other conditions. Researchers continue to study individual susceptibility, but for now, abstinence remains the only reliable prevention strategy, as referenced in a comprehensive 2026 review of CHS literature.

How do I talk to my teen about stopping cannabis without making things worse?

Approach the conversation calmly, focusing on concern for your teen’s health rather than punishment or moral judgment. Using the recent scromiting episode as a starting point can help: “That was scary for all of us. Let’s talk about how to keep this from happening again.” Avoid lecturing, and try to listen as much as you speak. Inviting a neutral professional, like a clinician from Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, to facilitate the discussion can reduce defensiveness and open the door to real progress. The benefits of getting expert support early far outweigh the discomfort of having a difficult conversation.

References

1. Allen, J. H., de Moore, G. M., Heddle, R., & Twartz, J. C. (2004). Cannabinoid hyperemesis: Cyclical hyperemesis in association with chronic cannabis abuse. Gut, 53(11), 1566–1570. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2003.036350
2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). ICD-10-CM diagnosis code R11.16: Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome [Effective October 1, 2025].
3. Miech, R. A., Patrick, M. E., O’Malley, P. M., Jager, J., & Jang, J. B. (2026). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2025: Overview and detailed results for secondary school students. University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. https://monitoringthefuture.org
4. Toce, M. S., Monuteaux, M. C., Fishman, M. D., & Hudgins, J. D. (2025). Emergency department visits for cannabis hyperemesis syndrome among adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 8(7), e2520492. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.20492