“Scromiting,” yet another new term from drug culture slang, is a blend of screaming and vomiting. And it’s increasingly heard in U.S. emergency rooms. While it isn’t a new illness, it’s a severe symptom of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), a condition directly linked to long-term, heavy cannabis use.
Colorado, a pioneer in legalizing cannabis, has been at the forefront of the rise of CHS [1].
“Scromiting” refers to marijuana-induced vomiting. This involves cycles of intense abdominal pain and uncontrollable vomiting, during which individuals often scream from the pain, typically following chronic, heavy cannabis use.
As cannabis potency has skyrocketed, so have cases of CHS, turning a once-rare syndrome into a dangerous health concern for regular users. In this article, I explain what scromiting is, its symptoms, prevalence, and treatment.
What is Scromiting (CHS)?
CHS is a condition characterized by cycles of recurrent severe nausea, abdominal pain, and uncontrollable vomiting in people who use cannabis regularly over long periods.
The hyperemetic phase is where patients don’t just vomit; they experience extreme pain and distress, leading to screaming episodes—hence the slang term “scromiting” [2].
This term combines “screaming” and “vomiting” to describe episodes where pain is so intense that people cry out while having explosive vomiting. It is often accompanied by the peculiar symptom of compulsive hot showering or bathing, which provides temporary relief for many sufferers.
The High-THC Connection
In the 1990s, cannabis averaged 2-3% THC. Today, products commonly contain 15-30% or more THC, with some concentrates (in the form of dabs, shatter, and vapes) approaching near‑pure THC [3].
Low doses of THC can combat nausea (as in chemotherapy patients). However, long-term overstimulation of the body’s endocannabinoid receptors involved in regulating nausea, vomiting, and gut motility disrupts the digestive system. Eventually, it triggers the opposite effect.
Higher potency increases the dose per use and accelerates cumulative THC exposure, which raises the risk of CHS and related toxic effects such as severe anxiety, psychosis, and cardiovascular symptoms.
How Common Scromiting Is and Who’s at Risk
CHS was first described in 2004, but emergency‑department data now show it is “becoming a routine part of emergency medicine,” with suspected CHS cases rising sharply in U.S. ERs since about 2016.
One large national analysis found CHS presentations increasing from 4.4 per 100,000 ED visits in 2016 to over 30 per 100,000 at their 2020 peak, remaining well above baseline thereafter [1].
A newer study, published in July 2025, found emergency room visits for adolescents aged 13 to 21 across the nation increased more than 10-fold between 2016 and 2023. And doctors in states like Colorado now see CHS patients “multiple times a week” [4].
Highest-risk groups include people using cannabis daily or multiple times per week for years with high‑THC flower, vapes, concentrates, and edibles. Teens and young adults aged 18-34 years have experienced the fastest rise in CHS.
Clinical Picture and Complications
Scromiting is not just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. CHS typically begins with an initial phase of morning nausea and abdominal discomfort. With ongoing cannabis use, it develops into a hyperemetic phase with relentless vomiting, weight loss, dehydration, and electrolyte disturbance.
During hyperemetic episodes, people may present with [5]:
- Persistent nausea and nonstop vomiting
- Cramping abdominal pain
- Relief from very hot showers/baths
- Signs of dehydration (dry mucous membranes, tachycardia, orthostasis)
- Sometimes there may be agitation, anxiety, or “scromiting” behavior in the ED.
Potential complications include acute kidney injury from dehydration, electrolyte derangements, aspiration, kidney failure, injury to the esophagus, and repeated costly ED visits and admissions.
The only long-term solution is complete cessation of cannabis use. Symptoms typically resolve after quitting but return if usage is resumed.
Management, Harm Reduction, and Prevention
In acute episodes, ED care focuses on IV fluids, antiemetics, pain control, and, in some cases, topical capsaicin or hot water exposure for symptom relief [6].
Standard antiemetics may be only partially effective; clinicians sometimes use antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol) or benzodiazepines in severe cases while monitoring for other cannabis‑related toxicities.
The only reliable cure is complete cessation of cannabis; symptoms typically resolve when use stops and recur when use resumes.
Harm‑reduction Guidance for High‑THC Products
Daily or near‑daily use of high‑potency products, such as vapes (inhalable cannabis oil), dabs (concentrated cannabis extracts), shatter (a type of cannabis concentrate), and strong edibles (food products infused with cannabis), carries a higher risk for CHS, psychosis, and other acute harms.
Delayed onset and long duration of edibles make overconsumption common, especially in adolescents, increasing the risk of “unexpected highs” and severe toxicity.
Anyone with unexplained cyclical vomiting, abdominal pain, and cannabis use should be screened for CHS and strongly advised to abstain, with support for withdrawal and co‑occurring mental health or substance‑use issues.
Key Takeaways
- The rise of “scromiting” is a stark side effect of the trend toward higher-THC products.
- Cannabis users should be aware of the risks, recognize the early signs (like morning nausea), and seek medical help if they or someone they know experiences these symptoms.
Find Supportive Care at Red Rock Recovery
Substance use disorder, or addiction, can feel insurmountable, but Red Rock Recovery Center is here to help you begin your recovery journey today with our core values of Community, Connection, and Purpose and a trauma-informed approach.
Red Rock Recovery Center stands out from most drug and alcohol rehab centers in Colorado by offering a full continuum of care approach to substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction treatment.
Our Colorado rehab center is proud to offer an addiction treatment program that includes all necessary steps to healing, from medical detox to aftercare services. Located close to major cities such as Colorado Springs, we are uniquely equipped to help countless families find healing.
Sources
[1] Harden M. 2025. Scromiting’ Is Real – And It’s a Real Pain for Chronic Marijuana Users, Says a CU Anschutz Toxicologist. cuanschutz.edu
[2] Pinto-Garcia P. 2024. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome and ‘Scromiting’: What You Should Know. goodrx.com
[3] Lehman J. 2025. The Strange Rise of Scromiting — Most Common Among Young, Heavy Cannabis Users. Discovermagazine.com
[4] Juta Medical Brief. 2025. ‘Scromiting’, a cannabis-linked illness, on the rise in US. Medicalbrieff.co.za
[5] Mammoser G. 2025. Heavy Cannabis Use Tied to Severe Vomiting, Fivefold Increase in ER Visits. Healthline.com
[6] Takakuwa, K. M., & Schears, R. M. (2021). The emergency department care of the cannabis and synthetic cannabinoid patient: a narrative review. International journal of emergency medicine, 14(1), 10