Case Report: Catastrophic Effects of Using Cannabis Via Bucket Bong in Top End Northern Territory of Australia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Sep 11:tpmd230393. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0393. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of cannabis usage is increasing worldwide, including among both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The long-term effects of cannabis use on the lungs are well-known. However, the acute adverse effects on the lungs are sparsely reported. There are different ways in which cannabis can be inhaled, such as smoking or through a water vaporizing method known as a “bong.” An improvised innovative bong device that is commonly used in Northern Australia, called a “bucket bong,” uses water and air pressure to assist in cannabis inhalation. In this report, we describe three patients from remote and rural Northern Australian communities presenting with near-life-threatening events (acute pneumonitis and massive pneumothorax) immediately after the use of cannabis via bucket bong.

PMID:37696516 | DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.23-0393