The number of children and young adults visiting emergency departments (ED) for cannabis-related issues was higher during the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 2019, a new study found.
Previous research showed ED visits related to cannabis increased among children ages 0-14 years as it was legalized across the United States prior to the pandemic.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed to compare trends in cannabis-related ED visits during the pandemic to 2019 using National Syndromic Surveillance Program data.
Their findings are published in “Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Persons Aged <25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic—United States, 2019-2022” (Roehler DR, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. July 13, 2023).
A total of 539,106 cannabis-involved ED visits occurred among young people ages 25 years and younger in the United States from Dec. 30, 2018, to Jan. 1, 2023.
During the pandemic, large increases in the average number of weekly cannabis-involved ED visits were seen among children ages 10 years and younger. The number of visits ranged from 30.4 to 71.5 in 2020, 2021 and 2022 compared with 18.7 to 23.2 prior to the pandemic.
For youths ages 11-14 years, cannabis-involved ED visits increased beginning in 2020, and visit ratios among females were higher than males. The pandemic peak in mean weekly visits (209.3) occurred during the second half of the 2021-’22 school year.
More than 90% of cannabis-involved ED visits by people under 25 years old occurred among teens and young adults ages 15-24 years. In this age group, the average weekly number of cannabis-involved ED visits during the pandemic ranged from 2,276 to 2,813 compared with 2,118 to 2,531 prior to the pandemic. Authors noted that increases in this age group might be driven in part by use among people beyond high school age.
To help decrease substance use, authors called on communities to implement evidence-based programs to improve coping and problem-solving skills among young people, many of whom have dealt with significant stressors during the pandemic.
Cannabis-infused edibles can be mistaken for products that appeal to children. To protect against unintentional cannabis ingestions by children, authors say it is important for adults to store cannabis locked and out of reach. Strengthening policies on labeling of products also could reduce unintended ingestion, they said.
Clinicians also should be aware of signs of cannabis poisoning so they can diagnose and treat patients rapidly.
