US Poison Control Centers Resources in United States
US Poison Control Centers Resources
Updated October 2007
Ninety percent of poisonings happen in the home, and more than half of them involve children under age six. More than 100 children die from accidental poisoning each year-most commonly from legal drugs, household and chemical products, plants and cosmetics. In 2002, more than 1.2 million unintentional poisonings among children ages 5 and under were reported to U.S. poison control centers.
Hundreds of poison control centers across the nation have closed their doors. Many of the remaining centers struggle to remain open and have cut back their services. Congress recognized the value of such centers and the difficulties they face when it passed the Poison Center Enhancement and Awareness Act in 2000 and reauthorized this Act in 2003. Although the act provides some funding for poison control centers, federal funding pays for only about 5 percent of center services. This act also mandates the establishment of a nationwide toll-free phone number to be used to access regional poison control centers.
Local hospitals were once the primary source of funding for poison control centers, hospital budgets have experienced their own fiscal constraints, resulting in cutbacks. In addition, as the number of poison control centers declined, the geographic areas of the remaining centers grew to the point that local hospitals did not want to provide services outside of their own areas. Nonetheless, in addition to frantic parents, hospitals and other health care providers remain among the primary users of the expertise offered by poison control centers.
Most poisonings are treated by poison control centers over the phone-with advice given by trained pharmacists and registered nurses. The centers monitor thousands of consumer products and prepare themselves to offer immediate advice about treatment. Poison control centers resolve about 70 percent of calls over the phone, which prevents emergency room visits, ambulance calls and hospital admissions. A 1997 study published in The Annals of Emergency Medicine notes that the average call to a poison control center costs about $27, averting an average of $190 in other medical costs. If every American had access to a certified poison control center an additional $545 million in medical costs would be saved annually.
All 50 states are served by at least one poison control center, and 38 states have centers that have been accredited by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Two states-New York and Texas-have five poison control centers. At least 30 states have created poison control centers through statute. Appropriations are the most common legislative action related to poison control centers-usually line items in state budgets. Although most states fund poison control centers through general appropriations, some states have begun using alternative funding approaches. For example, to fund poison control centers, Utah imposes an emergency services telephone charge of seven cents per month on certain telephone services, and Florida uses some of the funds accrued from the sale of certain license plates. Overall, states provide about 45 percent of the poison control center budgets. Under the recent federal legislation, states may apply to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau for federal grants to stabilize funding, ensure access and develop services.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently collaborated to implement a nationwide telephone number for poison control (1-800-222-1222) that connects callers to the nearest poison control center.
| State | Summary of Statutes | |
| Alabama | ||
| Alaska | ||
| American Samoa |
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| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 36-1161, et seq. requires the Department of Health Services to establish a poison and drug information center located at and affiliated with the University of Arizona. The law establishes the powers and functions of the poison control system, and requires the department to allocate funds to the poison and drug information center.
Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §42-5252 (2004) Appropriates money to the poison control fund administered by the department of health services and are subject to legislative appropriation. |
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| Arkansas | Ark. Stat. Ann. § 20-13-501, et seq. establishes a statewide emergency poison control drug information-toxicological laboratory services program designed and structured to deliver professional judgments and responses to requests for emergency poison control drug information data and toxicological laboratory services.
Ark. Stat. Ann. § 20-13-704, et seq. requires the Arkansas Poison and Drug Information Center to be structured and designed to meet the criteria for certification as a state poison control center by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The law lists the powers and duties of the director of the Arkansas Poison and Drug Information Center. |
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| California | Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 1798.180, et seq. requires that minimum standards be set for the operation of poison control centers, including geographical service areas and criteria for designation of regional poison control centers. The law allows the number of poison control centers to be consolidated if it results in cost-savings. The law allows a poison control center to contract with an entity in another state to provide poison control services if the center is unable to provide poison control services 24 hours a day; or the entity in the other state provides the same poison control services.
Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 1799.105 declares that regional poison control centers, medical directors, and poison information specialists are immune from liability in civil damages unless they are found to be grossly negligent or to perform acts or omissions not in good faith. Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 108750, et seq. creates the Children’s Poison Prevention Act. The law defines “toxic household product” and provides exceptions. The law requires any toxic household product to include a bittering agent that is nontoxic, unless the product is packaged with child-resistant safety closures. The law makes it illegal to distribute or sell a toxic household product if it does not meet the requirements, and the law provides exemptions to this requirement. The law states that any person who violates any provision of it is liable for a civil penalty. Penalties collected are allocated to the California Regional Poison Control Centers for poison prevention education. |
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| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. §25.5-2-102, et seq. requires the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to allocate funds for the provision of poison control services on a statewide basis and for the dissemination of information concerning the care and treatment of individuals exposed to poisonous substances. The law establishes a statewide oversight board. The law defines “poison control services” to include 24-hour toll-free telephone service; nurses specially trained in the triage and treatment of poisoning; and supervision by a certified physician.
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 25-32-103, Requires that poison control centers meet criteria established by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (HB 1201). |
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| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10a-132 (2002) requires the University of Connecticut Health Center to include a Poison Information Center, open 24 hours a day. The law requires hospitals to report to the Poison Information Center certain accidental poisonings. | |
| Delaware | ||
| District of Columbia | ||
| Florida | Fla. Stat. § 320.08058(32) directs the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to develop an American Red Cross license plate. The law requires that 50 percent of the annual use fees be distributed proportionately to the three statewide approved poison control centers. Fla. Stat. § 395.1027 requires that three accredited regional poison control centers be created. The law requires each center to be affiliated with and located in a Level I trauma center as well as affiliated with an accredited medical school or college of pharmacy. Each regional poison control center must provide toll-free access; case management; professional consultation; prevention education; and data collection and reporting. The law requires telephone numbers for regional poison control centers to be given special prominence, and lists requirements. Each regional poison control center must develop a prehospital emergency dispatch protocol. Allows patient medical records to be released to poison control centers for purposes of treating a poisoning episode.
Fla. Stat. § 401.268 requires each regional poison control center to develop a prehospital emergency dispatch protocol. |
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| Georgia | ||
| Guam | ||
| Hawaii | ||
| Idaho | Idaho Code § 56-1036, et. seq. (2002) establishes a statewide poison control center. Services of the center include providing 24 hour emergency telephone assistance, information to health professionals, and coordination and development of community education programs. | |
| Illinois | Ill. Public Act 93-729 (2003) Amends the Poison Control System Act. Directs the Department of Public Health and the Illinois Poison Advisory Board to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a formula that sets State goals for funding the poison control system. Requires completion of the study by December 31, 2005. (HB 4560)
Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 20, § 2305/8 requires the Department of Public Health to annually make grants to regional poison resource centers to provide information on poison prevention, detection, surveillance, and treatment. The law requires the department to develop standards to delineate the responsibilities of poison resource centers. Ill. Rev. Stat. ch. 410, §§ 47/5, et seq requires the director of the Department of Public Health to designate up to three poison control centers. The services provided by the centers must adhere to national standards. The law directs poison control centers to cooperate to reduce the cost of operations, collect information on poisoning exposures, and provide education to the public and health professionals. |
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| Indiana | ||
| Iowa | Iowa Code § 206.2 defines poison control center as an entity existing as part of a hospital which is an institutional member of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. | |
| Kansas | ||
| Kentucky | ||
| Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 9:2797.1 declares that the lack of a statewide poison control center is a health threat to the citizens of Louisiana. The law also declares that the availability of the information provided by such centers could save the lives of many citizens. The legislature further finds that liability insurance is unavailable for such centers and that this unavailability of insurance will prevent the provision of this vital service. The law provides some exemptions from liability for civil damages for poison control centers.
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 40:1296 requires the Department of Health and Hospitals to establish a statewide poison control center at Northeast Louisiana University. The law requires the center to include operation of a statewide toll-free telephone number. |
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| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 1346 (1999) designates the Maine Poison Center, located at the Maine Medical Center, as the official state poison control center. The law requires the center to provide clinical toxicology services. The law requires the center to achieve certification from a national association of poison control centers by December 1, 2004. The law directs the center to seek funding from other sources. | |
| Maryland | ||
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. ch. 17 § 4A (2001) provides for “a poison information and control center to accept inquiries and provide comprehensive, full-time, centralized professional information” in the Department of Public Health. The law gives the Department of Public Health flexibility in the provision of poison control services. | |
| Michigan | Mich. Public Act 400 (2004) Creates Childhood Lead Poisoning and Control Commission to study the environment threats of lead poisoning to children’s health, review the state’s lead poisoning prevention program, evaluate the effectiveness of the program including the ability to satisfy federal law requirements that 100% of all young children enrolled in Medicaid shall be screened with a blood lead test and to make recommendations for improvements to the program.Mich. Comp. Laws § 333.1011, et seq. requires the Department of Public Health to establish a state plan for the creation and operation of a poison control center network. The law directs the department to establish an advisory committee to develop guidelines for the implementation and operation of the state plan. The law specifies standards, policies and procedures. | |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. § 145.93 establishes the Minnesota poison information centers. The law directs the commissioner to solicit applications from the poison information centers each odd-numbered year by giving reasonable public notice of the availability of money. The law directs the commissioner to select the applicants that best fulfill specified criteria. | |
| Mississippi | ||
| Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 190.350, et seq. creates an “Advisory Committee on Poison Control” within the Department of Health and Senior Services. The law directs the committee to establish the “Missouri Regional Poison Information Center” and the “Missouri Poison Control Network.” The law also directs the committee to establish policies for data collection, develop a systematic plan for statewide education, and fund educational programs. The law requires the poison information center to provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone service; design education services; cooperation with the Missouri poison control network and health and other emergency service agencies and associations; evaluate programs; and coordinate the activities of poison prevention and treatment centers.
2006 Mo. Laws, H.B. 1437 disolves the “Advisory Committee on Poison Control” and transfers all duties and power to the Department of Health and Senior Services. |
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| Montana | ||
| Nebraska | ||
| Nevada | 2007 Nev. Stats., Chap. 5 appropriates over $150,000 to the department of health and human services to fund poison control call centers. (AB 199)
Nev. Rev. Stat. § 454.130 requires each pharmacy to have available for the information of the public the telephone number of the closest poison control center. |
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| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 126-A:49, et seq. (1995) directs the commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and designate a statewide program for poison information and treatment to provide residents with information and medical consultation on a 24-hour basis. | |
| New Jersey | N.J. Rev. Stat. § 26:2-119, et. seq. (1982) directs the commissioner of the Department of Health to establish a statewide program of poison control and drug information, with services available on a 24-hour basis. | |
| New Mexico | ||
| New York | N.Y. Public Health Law § S 2500-d requires the commissioner to designate facilities as regional poison control centers. The law directs the commissioner to consider certain criteria and establish minimum standards related to regional poison control centers. The law requires the department to make an annual report to the legislature. The law directs the commissioner to appoint a committee to advise the department on poison prevention and control. The law allows the commissioner to determine issues related to costs of services. The law authorizes the commissioner to make grants to general hospitals designated as regional poison control centers. | |
| North Carolina | ||
| North Dakota | ||
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 3701.19, et seq. requires the director of health to establish, promote, and maintain the Ohio poison control network; designate regions within the network; and designate poison prevention and treatment centers within each region. The law lists criteria for eligibility as a poison prevention and treatment center. The law directs the public health council to adopt rules to establish certain guidelines, standards and procedures. The law requires the director of health to make grants to poison prevention and treatment centers. The law requires poison prevention and treatment centers to provide certain services, including a 24-hour toll-free telephone line, specialized treatment, consultation, information, and educational programs and compile information on the types and frequency of treatment it provides. The law requires the director to annually report to the general assembly. | |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. tit. 63, §§ 2654.1, et seq. creates the “Oklahoma Poison Control Act,” which directs the Oklahoma Poison Control Center to be created within Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma. The purpose of the center is to implement a statewide emergency poison and drug information program designed and structured to deliver reliable, accurate, qualified professional judgments and responses to requests for emergency poison and drug information data. The law lists the duties of the director. | |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 431.890 (1991) creates the Poison Prevention Task Force in the Poison Center of the Oregon Health Sciences University. The task force reviews, grants or denies certain requests. The law directs the task force to obtain and evaluate statewide poisoning incidence and severity data over a period of every two years. | |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| Puerto Rico | ||
| Rhode Island | ||
| South Carolina | ||
| South Dakota | ||
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-141-101, et seq. (1991) authorizes the Department of Health to establish and maintain a system of poison control centers. The law allows the commissioner of health to consider certain criteria in designating regional control centers. The law allows the commissioner to establish minimum standards for designation as a regional control center. The law also allows the commissioner to appoint members to the Tennessee poison control network advisory committee to advise the department. The law also allows the commissioner to annually report to the general assembly. | |
| Texas | Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 777.001, et seq. (1993) creates six regional poison control centers. The law requires the poison control centers to provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone referral and information service. The law requires the poison control centers to provide community education programs, information and education, professional and technical assistance and consultation services. The law also lists regulations regarding staff, research programs, state liability, coordinating committee and funding. | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | ||
| Utah | Utah Code Ann. § 69-2-5.5 (1998) imposes an emergency services telephone charge of 7 cents per month on certain telephone services to fund the Poison Control Center. | |
| Vermont | ||
| Virginia | Va. Code § 32.1-111.15 (1996) directs the Board of Health to establish a statewide poison control system. Poison control centers must meet national certification standards. The Board must establish minimum standards. The poison control centers must report to the Board each year. The law directs the statewide system to provide a 24-hour emergency telephone line, prevention education and information, training and poison control surveillance. | |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code §§ 18.76.010, et seq. states that the purpose for the Poison Information Center is to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with overdose and poisoning incicents.
Wash. Rev. Code §§ 18.76.030, et seq. directs the Department of Health to support the state-wide program of poison and drug information services. The law requires that services include a 24-hour emergency telephone hotline, information services, coordination and development of community education programs and coordination of outreach units. |
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| West Virginia | W. Va. Chapter 177 of the Acts of 2006 (2006) continues the West Virginia Poison Center, operated by West Virginia University and certified by the American Association of Poison Centers (or a similar organization), and exempts it from hiring freezes affecting the university. Creates the West Virginia Poison Center Advisory Board. States that the center must provide twenty-four hour, seven day a week emergency telephone management and treatment referral; emergency telephone treatment recommendations for all types of poisonings, chemical exposures, drug overdoses and exposure to weapons of mass destruction; telephone follow-up for patients; surveillance of human poison exposures, and community education. | |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. § 146.57 (1993) requires the department to implement a statewide poison control system to provide poison control services that are available statewide, on a 24-hour basis as well as poison information and education. The law directs the department to distribute funding up to $375,000 each fiscal year. The law directs poison control centers to maintain a statewide toll-free hotline; an on-line staff member; a poison information specialist; and a pharmacy graduate and enrollee; a poison information provider. The law directs the department to promulgate rules that specify the information to be reported to the department. | |
| Wyoming | ||
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