Public Health and Safety

Marijuana: A Leading Drug in Emergency Room Visits

Marijuana was identified as being among the top five drugs associated to drug-related Emergency Department (ED) visits in 2021. 

The top five drugs identified in this report were alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. In cases where more than one drug was involved, marijuana again was identified in the top six drugs along with alcohol, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Marijuana was associated to over eleven percent of all drug-related ED visits behind alcohol, opioids, and methamphetamine.   

These are some of the findings of the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), from their 2021 nationwide monitoring of hospital emergency department visits associated to substance use or misuse. DAWN is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

Read Time: 15 – 20 minutes

Photo: Unsplash.com / Kononenko, O.

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