Cannabis Smokers Warned About Rise Of New 'Scromiting' Illness

The emergence of a terrifying new 'scromiting' illness has led to warnings being issued to stoners around the world.

The condition, formally known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), has only been recognised by medical experts in recent years and is linked to heavy drug use.

Doctors in the US came up with the phrase after coming across a growing number of hospital patients who were unable to stop screaming in pain and vomiting. That's a pretty heavy combo.

Credit: PA

'Scromiting' is said to be particularly on the rise in U.S. states where cannabis has already been legalised, including California, Oregon and Washington. Maybe give them a miss for the next holiday.

Doctors have told the American public radion station, NPR, that they have spotted a spike in "scromiting" cases since laws were passed allowing recreational marijuana use.

"Five years ago, this wasn't something that [doctors] had on their radar," said Dr. Kennon Heard, an emergency physician at the University of Colorado, who co-wrote a study showing a possible link between the liberalisation of cannabis and a surge of 'scromiting'. "We're at least making the diagnosis more now."

Californian doctor Dr. Aimee Moulin, an emergency room physician at UC-Davis Medical Center, even warned of a further rise of "scromiting" in the state once recreational marijuana shops are allowed to open in the state next January.

Patients diagnosed with the condition have explained how they would suffer episodes of violent retching and abdominal pain which would leave them unable to stand up for days on end. Jeez.

"I've screamed out for death," said Chalfonte LeNee Queen, a San Diego woman who suffered from the condition for 17 years before she realised it was linked to her cannabis use.

"I've cried out for my mom, who's been dead for 20 years, mentally not realising she can't come to me."

Credit: PA

A report by the National Center for Biotechnology Information said patients diagnosed with CHS often suffer from nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain.

"The syndrome was first described in 2004 by Allen and colleagues and is characterised by chronic cannabis use, cyclic episodes of nausea and vomiting," an extract from the report reads.

"Scromiting" is said to be difficult for doctors to diagnose and treat, with patients often needing hospital stays until the symptoms subside.

There is currently no known cure for the condition apart from sufferers quitting using cannabis altogether - a choice many don't want to make.

However, experts believe that staying in a hot shower may help to relieve the symptoms as the heat distracts sufferers' brains from the pain.

Topics: News, US News, Cannabis, Marijuana, weed

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from the University of East Anglia with degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing before completing his NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. Chris has previously written for the independent culture magazine The Skinny, among other publications.

@TheThumbCompass