Cannabis-Involved Emergency Department Visits Among Young Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about numerous changes in societal behavior, including substance use. One area of concern is the increase in cannabis-involved emergency department (ED) visits among young persons. This article discusses a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that examined this issue in the United States from 2019 to 2022.
Background
Before 2019, as cannabis legalization expanded across the United States, there was a noted increase in cannabis-involved ED visits for youths aged 0–14 years. This trend continued and even escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly alarming were the large increases in cannabis-involved ED visit rates among children aged ≤10 years and among persons aged 11–14 years. Notably, rates among females aged 11–14 years increased more than they did among males.
Study Methodology
The CDC used data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program to examine changes in ED visits during 2019–2022. The study focused on ED visits where cannabis use was documented in the chief complaint or a discharge diagnosis among young persons aged <25 years. The data was analyzed and stratified by age group and sex.
Key Findings
The study found that mean weekly cannabis-involved ED visits among all young persons were higher during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 2021, and 2022, compared with corresponding periods in 2019. Large increases in cannabis-involved ED visits throughout the COVID-19 pandemic compared with prepandemic surveillance periods in 2019 were identified among persons aged ≤10 years.
Among children and adolescents aged 11–14 years, ED visit rates did not differ by sex until the first half of the 2020–21 school year, when ED visit rates among females surpassed those among males. This might indicate that females were more likely than males to use cannabis to cope with pandemic-related stress.
Implications for Public Health Practice
The findings of this study have significant implications for public health practice. To protect youths from unintentional ingestions, it is important that safe cannabis storage practices be employed in households. Local implementation of youth- and young adult–focused evidence-based programs to improve coping with stressors might prevent initiation and continued use of cannabis. Additionally, modifications in cannabis packaging might decrease its appeal to youth, as cannabis use policies continue to increase cannabis availability in some states.
Conclusion
The study underscores the need for increased awareness and intervention to address the rise in cannabis-involved ED visits among young persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Law enforcement agencies, in collaboration with public health officials, educators, and parents, have a crucial role to play in mitigating this public health concern. This includes enforcing regulations related to cannabis access and use, promoting safe storage practices, and supporting preventive education and intervention programs targeted at youths and young adults.