Patterns of cannabis use that lead patients to seek treatment in the emergency department may increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder and worsenIn a population-based cohort study that included more than 12 million participants, about 24% of patients with an ED visit due to cannabis had an incident outpatient visit, ED visit, or hospitalization for an anxiety disorder in the subsequent 3 years.
They compared the risk for an incident healthcare visit for an anxiety disorder in the ED, hospital, or an outpatient setting among patients with a first visit to the ED for cannabis use and among the population overall. They were also more likely to have had previous outpatient mental health visits , hospitalizations for noncannabis substance use , or a mental health condition other than anxiety in the previous 3 years, compared with the general population.