Many TikTok users are claiming that scromiting, the combination of screaming and vomiting caused by chronic cannabis use, is more painful than childbirth.
One user, vanillasunshineee205, compared the pain of scromiting to giving birth to her 9-pound baby, stating that it was some of the worst physical pain she has ever experienced.
Users have reported crying, screaming, and begging for relief during scromiting episodes.
Scromiting, also known as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, can cause intense vomiting up to 30 times a day and severe abdominal pain lasting for years in chronic marijuana users.
Individuals who have suffered from scromiting are using social media to raise awareness about this painful condition.
One user, lizhaniford, shared her near-death experience of not being able to eat or drink for a week due to scromiting episodes after smoking marijuana multiple times a day for over four years.
She mentioned that it took her a while to realize that her symptoms were linked to her marijuana use.
Another user reenacted a scromiting episode for her followers on TikTok.
Scromiting can result in severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, potentially leading to fatal consequences. Research from the University of Illinois shows a rise in emergency room visits related to this condition since 2016, with a significant increase during the pandemic.
Another TikTok user shared photos from her hospitalization after a severe scromiting episode.
“Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is a nightmare. I’ve been sober for a week and have been to the hospital twice,” wrote witchykatie86 in her post.
While hot baths can help alleviate symptoms of CHS, the only long-term solution is to stop smoking marijuana entirely. Symptoms of scromiting may decrease over time after quitting, but it can take years for them to fully disappear, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Former scromiting sufferers are now using their social media platforms to raise awareness about Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome and the importance of sobriety.
“Smoking nearly took my life,” said ms.womanist3, who has been sober for over six months.
“The only way to stop the recurring sickness is to quit smoking,” she emphasized.
