Cannabis-Related Emergency Department Visits Climb in Kentucky, Especially Among Youth

A new data report from the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) shows a steady increase in emergency department (ED) visits related to cannabis use among Kentucky residents between 2018 and 2024, with some of the steepest rises occurring among children and adolescents. 

The report, produced by KIPRC epidemiologists Mira Mirzaian, MPH, and Lara Daniels, MPH, used data from the Kentucky Outpatient Services Database, maintained by the Office of Data and Analytics within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Also included was a subset of inpatient hospitalizations within this definition, specifically in cases where patients were admitted directly from the emergency department to a non-ambulatory inpatient facility. 

The report used an “any mention” approach, meaning cases were included if cannabis-related ICD-10 codes appeared anywhere in the medical record. (ICD-10 stands for International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, the standardized system used in the United States to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms, and procedures related to inpatient and outpatient medical care.) 

“This method is commonly used in public health surveillance to ensure we don't miss relevant encounters where cannabis may have been a contributing factor but not the main reason for the visit,” said Mirzaian. 

Between 2023 and 2024, cannabis-related poisonings among Kentuckians under age 18 rose 43%, from 124 to 212 visits. 

“That kind of jump raises concerns about unintentional exposures and increased household access to cannabis products.” said Mirzaian. “Many cannabis products, particularly gummies or edibles containing CBD or Delta-8, are packaged in ways that may be enticing or easily mistaken for candy by young children. This to me highlights the importance of public education and secure product storage in homes where these items are present.”  

One diagnosis, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition involving severe repeated vomiting related to long-term cannabis use, saw a steep increase. ED visits for CHS more than doubled statewide from 2021 to 2024. 

“The sharp rise in cases coded as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome over the past few years suggests growing clinical recognition of the condition,” said Mirzaian “At the same time, the increase could also reflect a true rise in incidence, especially as high-potency cannabis products become more widely available in the United States.” 

The data also pointed to rising rates of synthetic cannabis poisoning since 2022. Mirzaian said these substances can produce unpredictable and sometimes severe effects.

“The increase we’re seeing since 2022 may reflect provider awareness and documentation using the appropriate ICD-10 codes, rather than a sudden emergence of these substances,” she said. 

Although males typically account for more cannabis-related ED visits overall, the difference is diminishing. Mirzaian said, while males accounted for a slightly greater number of visits overall, the gap between males and females narrowed over time, suggesting growing impact across both groups.

There were racial and ethnic disparities as well. 

“Non-Hispanic white Kentuckians represented the largest number of cannabis-related ED visits,” she said. “However, visits among Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic residents also rose steadily over the seven-year period, indicating a broadening demographic impact that warrants continued attention.” 

Cannabis was listed as a contributing cause of death in more than 60 fatalities annually in Kentucky from 2018 to 2024, although cannabis typically was not the sole cause. 

“These fatalities should absolutely be interpreted with caution,” said Mirzaian. “In all identified cases, cannabis poisoning was listed as a contributing cause of death, not the underlying cause. In this context, cannabis may contribute to overall risk, but it is unlikely to be the sole cause of death.” 

Some data limitations remain, according to Mirzaian. 

“We follow state data management policy, which requires suppression of any count between one and four and any rate based on counts less than 10,” she said. “This is especially relevant when interpreting data for smaller demographic groups or counties. While the suppression is essential for maintaining privacy, it can limit the level of detail available.”  

Mirzaian said KIPRC will continue to track cannabis-related ED trends. 

“This is part of our ongoing annual surveillance work. Our goals are to ensure stakeholders across Kentucky have access to timely, actionable data on substance use trends, including cannabis,” she said. 

The full report can be found on the KIPRC site: https://kiprc.uky.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/2024_cannabisuse_report.pdf

KIPRC, a unique partnership between the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and the University of Kentucky College of Public Health, serves both as an academic injury prevention research center and as the DPH’s bona fide agent for statewide injury prevention and control.