According to Dr. Robert Hendrickson, associate medical director of the poison center at Oregon Health & Science University, more teens are being poisoned by marijuana in the state of Oregon.
Hendrickson says the rise is worrisome but is not alarmed.
In 2016, around 70 adolescents that were aged between 13 and 19 had sought treatment in an ER or called the state’s Poison Center over symptoms associated with marijuana use. The year before the number was only at 40.
“I think you can look at it two ways,” Hendrickson remarked. “It’s increasing and that is a concern. On the other hand, 70 cases for the entire state in a whole year is pretty small.”
“Most people who we get a call about do well,” Hendrickson said. “Their symptoms last for a couple of hours and then they get better and go home.”
Symptoms go away on their own as they flush out of the bloodstream. According to Hendrickson, there have been no deaths in the state linked to marijuana use.