Parents, be mindful if your child plans on visiting Colorado. New research shows that the number of marijuana related emergency room visits by tourists in Colorado increased over 100% from 2012 to 2014. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, out-of-state visitor trips to the ER for marijuana-related symptoms rose from 78 per 10,000 visits in 2012, to 112 per 10,000 in 2013, to 163 per 10,000 in 2014, marking an increase of 109%. The study, from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, reviewed ER visits from over 100 hospitals. The results were less dramatic but still substantial for Colorado residents, with marijuana-related emergency room visits rising 44%, from 70 per 10,000 in 2012 to 101 per 10,000 in 2014.
Study authors sought to find a correlation between the legalization of marijuana in 2012 (retail sales began in 2014) and the rising rates of ER visits, and whether rates have increased disproportionately among out-of-state residents, as compared with Colorado residents. The authors note that initial media messaging to educate the public on marijuana has been focused mostly on Colorado residents and that point-of-sale education to educate visitors on the safe and appropriate use of marijuana products is also needed.
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids has created a valuable tool for parents who would like some tips on talking with their kids about marijuana, called The Marijuana Talk Kit. For more information on the harms of marijuana, check out: /drugfreeazkids/marijuana
