Scromiting is a term for a disturbing health trend related to teen marijuana use. It combines two words: screaming and vomiting, and it has become better known as the incidence increases.
Teens suffering from this marijuana-induced condition experience episodes of violent vomiting, which are often so severe and painful that they cause the person to scream. When teens use marijuana daily or regularly over a long period of time, the risk of scromiting increases.
With marijuana now legal in 24 states as of December 2025, teens have easier access to the drug, and more of them are experiencing this distressing condition. A study published in 2025 found that emergency room visits in the United States for adolescents and young adults (aged 13 to 21) increased by more than 10 times between 2016 and 2023.
What You’ll Learn
- What is scromiting, and how many teens have it?
- What are the symptoms of scromiting?
- What are the long-term effects of teen marijuana use?
- When does a teen need substance use treatment?
Quick Read
Scromiting is a troubling health trend among teens linked to marijuana use. The term combines “screaming” and “vomiting,” describing severe vomiting episodes that can be very painful. With marijuana legal in 24 states as of December 2025, more teens have access to the drug, leading to a significant rise in emergency room visits for this condition.
The medical term for scromiting is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), recognized since 2004. It is associated with long-term marijuana use, especially products high in THC. Symptoms include severe nausea, excessive vomiting, and dehydration, with the only effective treatment being complete cessation of cannabis use.
Regular marijuana use poses long-term risks for teens, including mental health issues and impaired brain development. Early use is linked to higher risks of psychosis and anxiety. Treatment programs like Newport Academy aim to address the root causes of substance use while helping teens develop healthier coping strategies and restoring family support.
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What Is Scromiting?
The official name for scromiting is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, or CHS. It was first included in scientific reports in 2004. Since then, researchers have determined that scromiting is the result of ongoing, long-term use of marijuana—particularly when the drug contains high levels of THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient. Some experts believe that the receptors in the gut become overstimulated by THC, thus causing the repeated cycles of vomiting.
A national research review on CHS called the syndrome “an increasingly prevalent and complicated problem for health care providers and patients.” The review also noted that scromiting is “becoming a commonplace and costly occurrence in hospitals nationwide.”
High rates of marijuana use among adolescents contribute to the trend: According to the Monitoring the Future 2025 report, 26 percent of 12th graders, 16 percent of 10th graders, and 7 percent of 8th graders report marijuana use in the past year.
Symptoms of Scromiting and Long-Term Effects
The primary cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms include:
- Recurrent nausea, which progresses to severe nausea
- Excessive vomiting, as often as five times an hour
- Abdominal pain
- Sweating
- Dehydration
- Fluctuations in body temperature
- Weight loss over time, as symptoms repeat
CHS is sometimes described as cyclical vomiting because the severe cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms usually go away and then return after a period of days, weeks, or months. While a hot bath or shower can sometines provide temporary relief for symptoms, only stopping cannabis use entirely will prevent recurrence of scromiting.
Long-term effects of scromiting may include erosion of tooth enamel, potentially leading to tooth loss; kidney problems; and mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.
The Link Between THC Levels and Scromiting
The high levels of THC in marijuana contribute to the increasing number of teens suffering from scromiting. Whereas the THC levels in cannabis products 20 years ago were around 2 or 3 percent, levels today range from 15 to 30 percent.
Moreover, the availability of cannabis gummy edibles makes it easy for teens to ingest extreme amounts of THC. Cannabis gummy edibles take longer to act, which means teens may consume more of them, and the THC also stays in the system longer. Weekly or more frequent vaping and smoking can also cause scromiting episodes.
How Common Is Scromiting?
In one survey of ER patients, about a third of those who smoked marijuana at least 20 days a month had experienced cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome symptoms. Almost all teens who develop the condition use marijuana at least once a week.
A review of studies found that 97 percent of those who experienced scromiting reported using marijuana weekly, and three-quarters had consumed cannabis regularly for more than one year.
Younger marijuana users are at higher risk for CHS, but it’s not yet known why some frequent users develop the syndrome while others do not. Researchers may be able to better track the condition now that a US federal committee and the World Health Organization have created R11.16, an official medical diagnosis code for CHS.
The Long-Term Impact of Chronic Teen Marijuana Use
Teens who use marijuana regularly, particularly marijuana with high THC levels, have a more significant risk not only for scromiting but also for a number of other physical and mental health conditions. Below is some of the research on the long-term impact of teen marijuana use.
- Consuming cannabis with THC levels over 10 percent increases the likelihood of a marijuana-related psychotic episode, according to a 2019 study.
- Teen marijuana use can have damaging effects on adolescent brain development.
- A review study found that cannabis use in adolescents is associated with an increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
- People who use marijuana prior to the age of 12 are more likely to experience a serious mental illness, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, compared to those who first use marijuana at age 18 or older, according to SAMHSA.
- An American Academy of Pediatrics report noted that heavy teenage marijuana use is associated with a higher risk of psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
- Youth cannabis use is linked to an elevated risk of depression and anxiety, psychosis, paranoia, and self-harm.
- Participants in a study that followed 1,000 people from birth to age 38 found that those who began smoking marijuana as teenagers lost an average of eight IQ points.
- The CDC reports that students who use marijuana are more likely to do poorly in school and to drop out of high school.
Signs of Teen Marijuana Use
Teens who are regularly using marijuana might show any or all of the following warning signs:
- Talking loudly
- Increased appetite outside of usual mealtimes
- Red eyes
- Forgetfulness
- Sleepiness
- Marijuana paraphernalia on their person or in their room
- Scent of marijuana on their clothes or in their room
- Acting silly and out of character
- Irritability
- Losing interest in activities they used to enjoy
- Spending time with a new friend group
- Difficulty remembering and concentrating
- Red eyes
- Stealing money from friends or family members.
Parents should be aware of these red flags so they can ensure that teens get the help they need to address marijuana use and the underlying mental health issues that catalyze substance use disorder.
Treatment for Teen Substance Use
The only way for teens to avoid or recover from scromiting is to stop smoking marijuana or consuming cannabis gummy edibles. Because CHS typically occurs after regular use over several years, teens who develop the syndrome most likely have become addicted to marijuana. Therefore, they will need treatment not only to stop using the drug, but also to address the root causes of their marijuana use.
At Newport Academy, we guide teens to uncover the trauma, anxiety, depression, and lack of self-worth that catalyze marijuana use. Teens in our outpatient and residential programs also learn healthy coping mechanisms for dealing with the inevitable stressors of life. In addition, our clinical model focuses on healing the family system, so that teens feel safe turning to their parents for support when they are struggling.
Contact us today to learn more about Newport Academy’s approach to healing teen substance use.
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