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Life sciences · Journal article
Injury Epidemiology · September 4, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This retrospective cohort from two paediatric trauma centres documents that unintentional cannabis ingestion in children aged 0–6 years is rising, with 51.8% of cases occurring in 2023–2024, predominantly as edibles. The study reports no significant differences in social work involvement, child protective services reporting, or discharge disposition across deprivation index strata, though the analysis is observational and limited to two high-volume centres.
Retrospective cohort study. Children aged 0–6 years presenting to emergency departments at two high-volume children's hospitals with level 1 trauma centres in the United States with a positive urine drug screen for tetrahydrocannabinol; study period inclusive of medical legalization (5/2011, 6/2016) and recreational legalizat…. Intervention: Unintentional cannabis ingestion (observational; no intervention).. n = 266. Two high-volume children's hospitals with level 1 trauma centres in the United States of America..
Among 266 cases, 58.3% were under age 2, 52.3% male, 43.2% non-Hispanic White, 71.4% publicly insured 51.8% of ingestions occurred in the last two years (2023–2024) Edibles were the most common ingestion type at 51.1%, often belonging to a primary guardian (40.2%)
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Clinicians should be alert to rising rates of unintentional paediatric cannabis ingestion, particularly edibles, and recognise that high acuity and critical care admission occur in approximately one-fifth of hospitalised cases. The finding of equitable social management across socioeconomic strata is reassuring but requires validation in diverse settings.
Retrospective cohort study from two centres describing epidemiology and social management of a rising clinical phenomenon, with no comparator group and no assessment of clinical outcomes beyond presentation acuity and disposition.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should be alert to rising rates of unintentional paediatric cannabis ingestion, particularly edibles, and recognise that high acuity and critical care admission occur in approximately one-fifth of hospitalised cases. The finding of equitable social management across socioeconomic strata is reassuring but requires validation in diverse settings.
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Abstract Background Unintentional pediatric cannabis ingestion has been rising following medical and recreational legalization. In this study, we aimed to examine the epidemiology of pediatric cannabis ingestion following legalization and to assess the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on equity of social management. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted at two high-volume children’s hospitals with level 1 trauma centers in the United States of America. Emergency department records from June 2016 to September 2024 were reviewed for children aged 0–6 years with a positive urine drug screen for tetrahydrocannabinol. Dates included were inclusive of medical (5/2011, 6/2016) and recreational legalization (4/2023, 11/2023) of cannabis products within both respective sites. Data collected included demographics, home zip code (used to assign a deprivation index), Emergency Severity Index triage level, and disposition. Manual chart review assessed ingestion type, location, suspected source owner, and involvement of social work, child protective services, and safe disposition planning. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population, and linear and logistic regression were used to determine the relationship between deprivation index, population characteristics, and social management. Results Among 266 cases, most children were under age 2 (58.3%), male (52.3%), non-Hispanic White (43.2%), English speaking (98.9%), and publicly insured (71.4%). Ingestions increased over time, with 51.8% occurring in the last two years (2023–2024). Edibles (51.1%) were the most common ingestion type, often belonging to a primary guardian (40.2%). Most cases were triaged as ESI 1or ESI 2 (83.5%), with 41.7% evaluated in a trauma bay. Hospital admission was common (82.0%), with 20.7% of admitted children requiring critical care. Social work (95.5%) and child protective services (80.1%) were involved in most cases. No relationship was found between deprivation index and social work consultation ( p = 0.52), child protective service reporting ( p = 0.41), discharge to a primary guardian ( p = 0.26), or discharge to a primary residence ( p = 0.144). Conclusions The incidence of unintentional cannabis ingestion presenting to the pediatric emergency department is increasing. Findings suggest equitable management across demographic and socioeconomic strata, highlighting high acuity and significant toxicity at presentation.
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