Emergency department presentations related to acute toxicity following recreational use of cannabis products in Switzerland.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence January 1, 2020 Yasmin Schmid, Irene Scholz, Laura Mueller et al.
A retrospective analysis of 717 emergency department visits for acute cannabis toxicity at three Swiss hospitals found that 26% involved cannabis alone. Most lone-cannabis cases were minor (61%), with common symptoms including nausea/vomiting (26%), palpitations (25%), anxiety (23%), and chest pain (15%). No fatalities occurred. However, severe complications such as psychosis (7%), coma (6%), and seizures (5%) were reported, and 1% required intensive care. Patients using cannabis alone more often experienced palpitations, anxiety, and panic attacks, while those co-using other substances had more impaired consciousness, agitation, and respiratory depression. The authors conclude that cannabis alone can pose considerable health risks.