Overview
- The WHO’s October update created a dedicated ICD code for CHS, now incorporated by the CDC into U.S. diagnostic systems.
- The syndrome strikes chronic cannabis users with cycles of severe nausea, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain and dehydration, with many reporting “scromiting” and relief from long, hot showers.
- A JAMA Network Open analysis of national ER data found CHS-related visits climbed roughly 650% from 2016 to a pandemic peak, with rates highest in adults 18–35 and still above pre‑2020 levels.
- No FDA‑approved therapy exists, standard anti‑nausea drugs often fail, and stopping cannabis use remains the only reliable cure, with some clinicians using Haldol or capsaicin cream for short‑term relief.
- Researchers are probing links to higher‑THC products and pandemic‑era use patterns, while clinicians expect the new code to reduce misdiagnosis, enable surveillance and flag repeat episodes in records.