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Rise in cannabis-related psychosis hospitalizations sparks concern in Victoria (opens in a new tab)

medicalxpress.com · 2026-10-12

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mixed

Mixed.

The claims we could check match the study, but some claims were not covered by the evidence reviewed.

  • 5 supported
  • 3 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Follow the evidence trail
1
2

NewsLink checks it

Mixed

Every claim we could check holds up. Five of eight claims match the study. This overall rating is based only on the claims we could check. Three claims the study doesn't address.

  • 5 supported
  • 3 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

8 claims in this story

Showing all 8 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 8Not coveredA further 15.2% of admissions were due to harmful cannabis use, 11.6% were due to poisonings and 11.6% were due to withdrawal.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated15.2%, 11.6%, and 11.6%

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile confirms that harmful use, poisonings, and withdrawal were among ICD-coded cannabis-related categories, and that harmful use was the most common cannabis-related mental/behavioural disorder overall. However, the specific percentages stated in the story—15.2%, 11.6%, and 11.6%—are not present in the supplied abstract-level evidence.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)

“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
Claim 2 of 8Not coveredHospital admission rates peaked during 2020 and 2021, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, mental health distress and domestic cannabis supply.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile supports that annual rates peaked in 2020/2021 and that temporal trends were non-linear. The supplied abstract-level evidence does not verify the story's added contextual explanation involving COVID-19 lockdowns, mental health distress, or domestic cannabis supply, although the story frames these as coincident rather than proven causal factors.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.

“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
2

Study evidence

Principal-diagnosis cannabis-related hospital admission rates were highest in males aged 15–24 years (36.9 per 100,000) and next highest in females aged 15–24 years (20.5 per 100,000).36.9/100,000 (males 15–24); 20.5/100,000 (females 15–24)

“When considering principal diagnosis only, the rates were highest in males aged 15-24 years (36.9/100 000), followed by females in the same age group (20.5/100 000)”
Claim 3 of 8Not coveredThe study is presented as critical population-level evidence supporting concerns among clinicians and leading health organizations about increased cannabis-related psychosis, and as informing clinical and policy responses.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile supports that the paper provides population-level observational evidence on cannabis-related admissions, psychotic-disorder principal diagnoses, and demographic trends. However, the abstract-level profile does not verify the broader framing that the study is 'critical' evidence for clinicians and leading health organizations or that it specifically informs clinical and policy responses.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.

“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
2

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)

“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
Claim 4 of 8SupportedNew research from Monash University shows cannabis-related hospital admissions have risen sharply across Victoria over the past decade, highlighting growing concerns about cannabis-related psychosis and the burden on the state's hospitals.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile supports a retrospective observational study of Victoria hospital admissions showing a substantial increase in cannabis-related principal-diagnosis admissions over the decade and identifying psychotic disorder as the most common cannabis-related principal diagnosis. The 'burden on hospitals' language is interpretive framing rather than a separately measured burden metric, but it is consistent with statewide hospital-admission counts and rates.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.

“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
2

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)

“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
Claim 5 of 8SupportedThe observational study, published in Addiction, found hospital admissions primarily caused by cannabis increased by 49% across Victoria between 2013 and 2023.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated49% across Victoria between 2013 and 2023

Why this verdict

The profile reports a modeled net +49.0% increase in admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis comparing 2022/23 with 2013/14, matching the story's 'primarily caused by cannabis' framing.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.

“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
Claim 6 of 8SupportedPsychotic disorders were the most common primary diagnosis, accounting for 40% of admissions.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated40% of admissions

Why this verdict

The profile states that psychotic disorder was the most common cannabis-related principal diagnosis and represented 40.1% of principal-diagnosis cases, matching the story's rounded 40% figure.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)

“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
Claim 7 of 8SupportedMen and boys ages 15 to 24 continued to record the highest overall hospital admission rates, while admissions among women and girls of all ages increased by 75% over the decade, compared with a 35% rise among men.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated75% increase among women and girls; 35% among men

Why this verdict

The profile reports the highest principal-diagnosis rates in males aged 15–24 years and larger relative increases for females than males over the study window: +75.1% for females and +34.6% for males. The story rounds these accurately.

1

Study evidence

Principal-diagnosis cannabis-related hospital admission rates were highest in males aged 15–24 years (36.9 per 100,000) and next highest in females aged 15–24 years (20.5 per 100,000).36.9/100,000 (males 15–24); 20.5/100,000 (females 15–24)

“When considering principal diagnosis only, the rates were highest in males aged 15-24 years (36.9/100 000), followed by females in the same age group (20.5/100 000)”
Claim 8 of 8SupportedResearchers analyzed almost 40,000 cannabis-related hospital admissions across Victoria's public and private hospitals over 10 years using the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedalmost 40,000 admissions

Why this verdict

The profile reports 39,565 cannabis-related admissions over 10 years using the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset, described as including all hospital admissions in Victoria. This supports the story's 'almost 40,000' and statewide hospital-data framing.

1

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.

“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
2

Study evidence

Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)

“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Diagnostic composition differs by perspective: harmful use was the most common cannabis-related mental/behavioural disorder overall, while psychotic disorder was the most common cannabis-related principal diagnosis at 40.1%.

    The story accurately reports psychotic disorder as the most common primary diagnosis, but it foregrounds psychosis and does not clearly convey the paper's distinction that harmful use was the most common cannabis-related mental/behavioural disorder overall.

    From Retrospective observational analysis of administrative hospital admissions (VAED)

  • Administrative-record limitation: case identification depends on ICD diagnostic coding and may be affected by coding or documentation practices.

    The story mentions hospital admission data and observational design, but the caveats supplied do not acknowledge potential coding or documentation artifacts.

    From Retrospective observational analysis of administrative hospital admissions

7 things the story did carry across
  • Retrospective observational population-level analysis of Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset records for July 2013–June 2023, using ICD codes for cannabis poisoning and cannabis-related mental/behavioural disorders.
  • The paper distinguishes all cannabis-related admissions from admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis: 39,565 total cannabis-related admissions and 7,263 principal-diagnosis admissions.
  • Modeled net percent change showed a +49.0% increase in cannabis-related principal-diagnosis admissions comparing 2022/23 with 2013/14.
  • Age- and sex-specific findings: principal-diagnosis rates were highest in males aged 15–24, followed by females aged 15–24, and relative increases were larger among females than males.
  • Temporal trend was non-linear, with peak annual age-standardised rates in 2020/2021.
  • Hospital admissions reflect hospital-treated events and do not directly measure community cannabis-use prevalence, subclinical harms, or all cannabis-related morbidity.
  • The net-change estimate compares the final study year with the baseline year and may not fully summarize intermediate fluctuations across the decade.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

3

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

secondary data

1Lead resultsecondary dataQuantify 10-year trends (2013/14–2022/23) in cannabis-related hospital admissions in Victoria using administrative hospital records, including crude and age-standardised rates and modeled net percent change.Retrospective observational analysis of administrative hospital admissionsExpand

In plain English

Retrospective population-level analysis of all hospital admissions in Victoria, Australia (Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset) from July 2013 to June 2023 identifying cannabis-related records via ICD codes for poisoning (T40.7) and mental/behavioural disorders (F12.0–F12.9). The study reports crude and age-standardised admission rates per 100,000 and uses generalized linear models with a log(population) offset to estimate net percent change over the 10-year window, comparing 2022/2023 to 2013/2014. Over the period there were 39,565 cannabis-related admissions (7,263 with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis); age-standardised rates and modeled changes indicate a 49.0% increase in principal-diagnosis admissions between the first and last years, with peak annual rates in 2020/2021 and larger relative increases among females than males.

Key findings

  • Total cannabis-related hospital admissions over the 10-year period: 39,565; admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis: 7,263.
  • Age-standardised rates per 100,000 population: 63.6 for all cannabis-related harm admissions and 11.7 for cannabis-related principal-diagnosis admissions.
“This is a retrospective observational study of the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset (VAED) records, which include all hospital admissions in the state of Victoria”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Retrospective analysis of administrative hospital records: case identification depends on diagnostic coding (ICD codes T40.7 and F12.0–F12.9) and may be affected by coding/documentation practices.
  • Admissions reflect hospital-treated events and do not capture community-level incidence or subclinical harms; results are rates of hospital admission, not direct measures of population cannabis use prevalence.
  • Temporal non-linearity (peak in 2020/2021) indicates year-to-year variability; modeled net change compares only the first and last years and may not reflect intermediate fluctuations.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2secondary dataCharacterise the types of cannabis-related harms recorded in admissions (poisonings vs mental/behavioural disorders; distribution across ICD-10-AM subcodes such as harmful use and psychotic disorder), including principal-diagnosis-only vs all-diagnoses perspectives.Retrospective observational analysis of administrative hospital admissions (VAED)Expand

In plain English

Descriptive diagnostic breakdown of cannabis-related hospital admissions in Victoria (July 2013–June 2023) using ICD-10-AM codes T40.7 and F12.0–F12.9, reported as counts, proportions, and age-standardised rates; includes distinction between any-cause cannabis-related admissions and those with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis.

Key findings

  • Total cannabis-related admissions and principal-diagnosis subset over 10 years.7263/39565 (18.4%)
  • Age-standardised rates per 100,000 population for cannabis-related admissions.63.6 per 100,000 (all cannabis-related admissions); 11.7 per 100,000 (principal-diagnosis only)
“There were 39 565 cannabis-related admissions in the 10-year period, including 7263 admissions where cannabis-related harm was the principal diagnosis”
3secondary dataDescribe demographic patterning of principal cannabis-related admissions (age- and sex-specific rates and differential percent change over time).Retrospective observational analysis of administrative hospital admissionsExpand

In plain English

Age- and sex-stratified analysis of hospital admissions with a cannabis-related principal diagnosis (Victoria VAED, July 2013–June 2023) reports the highest principal-diagnosis rates in 15–24-year-olds (males 36.9/100,000; females 20.5/100,000) and larger relative increases over the study window for females (+75.1%, P < 0.0001) than males (+34.6%, P = 0.003).

Key findings

  • Principal-diagnosis cannabis-related hospital admission rates were highest in males aged 15–24 years (36.9 per 100,000) and next highest in females aged 15–24 years (20.5 per 100,000).36.9/100,000 (males 15–24); 20.5/100,000 (females 15–24)
  • From 2013/14 to 2022/23, principal-diagnosis admission rates increased by +75.1% for females (P < 0.0001) and +34.6% for males (P = 0.003).Females +75.1% (P < 0.0001); Males +34.6% (P = 0.003)
“When considering principal diagnosis only, the rates were highest in males aged 15-24 years (36.9/100 000), followed by females in the same age group (20.5/100 000)”
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