Cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids as a cause of death: Trends and their healthcare implications.
Armiel Suriaga, Ruth M Tappen, Elizabeth R Aston and 2 others
PMID 36250599WHAT IT FOUND
Synthetic cannabinoid death rates in Florida did not stay flat from 2014 to 2020, while cannabinoid death rates did not show a trend.
Most deaths were accidents, and motor vehicle collisions were more frequent with cannabinoids.
Key findings
01Florida medical examiner records identified 386 decedents with cannabinoids or synthetic cannabinoids as a cause of death; 258 were synthetic cannabinoid deaths and 128 were cannabinoid deaths.
02Death rates from synthetic cannabinoids showed statistically significant trends across Florida counties from 2014 to 2020, while death rates from cannabinoids did not show a significant trend.
03Most deaths were classified as accidents, with drug intoxications the largest accident category and motor vehicle collisions more frequent among cannabinoid deaths than synthetic cannabinoid deaths.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The analysis covered only Florida deaths from 2014 to 2020, and the authors state that Florida county demographics may differ from other settings. Doses and substance levels were mostly missing, and blood alcohol concentration was available for only 2 ethanol cases. Other substances were identified in many cases, so the study cannot separate the contribution of cannabinoids or synthetic cannabinoids from stimulants, opioids, ethanol, or other drugs. Health-related conditions were listed from cause-of-death records without information on severity or causal effect. The study analysed deaths identified by medical examiners, not a sample of living cannabis users.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a conflict-of-interest or funding declaration. The article is tagged as supported by N.I.H. extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids alone caused these deaths. Other substances were identified in 60 cannabinoid deaths and 51 synthetic cannabinoid deaths, and doses were usually not reported, so the study cannot separate the contribution of any single substance.