A study led by Oregon Health & Science University has found that a surge in severe burns from people who smoke drugs, particularly those who use torches that lock the flames, has led to a decrease in hospitalizations and severe burns. The study, which examined medical records of Oregon Medicaid patients from April 2016 to March 2024, found that burn injuries were four times more common among people who used smokable drugs compared to those who did not. The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The research was prompted by concerns raised by physicians at Portland’s Oregon Burn Center at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center.