National Poison Prevention Week Recognized by State Legislature

Editor's Note: The following news release was issued by the NJ Poison Center.

The NJ Poison Center joins poison centers around the country in celebrating National Poison Prevention Week this week.

National Poison Prevention Week was established by the U.S. Congress. Since 1962, the President of the United States has proclaimed the third week of March as National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) to raise awareness about the dangers of poisoning and how to prevent them.   

In honor of NPPW, Assemblyman Tom Giblin (D-Essex/Passaic) visited the NJ Poison Center on the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Newark campus Wednesday to present Dr. Steven Marcus, executive and medical director of NJ Poison Center, with a proclamation from both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly proclaiming March 17-23 as National Poison Prevention Week.   

We are committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of every New Jersey resident through poison prevention and free, confidential, expert medical services,” said Steven Marcus, executive and medical director of NJ Poison Center. Our poison center responds to calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week in order to help those who have been exposed to toxic substances.”

This year the NJ Poison Center aims to raise awareness about the problem of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) misuse/abuse, possibly our nation’s fastest-growing drug abuse concern (even more so than street drug abuse).

Unintentional poisoning deaths from medicine misuse/abuse has risen in the last few years and now ranks as the number one cause of unintentional deaths from injuries, more than motor vehicle crashes. Teens and young adults misuse Rx and OTC medicines to get high for two reasons: these products are readily available in home medicine cabinets; and they do not carry the stigma that street drugs do. 

“We are asking New Jersey residents to lock up all medicines (Rx, OTC, dietary, and herbal) and monitor their family’s Rx and OTC medicine use by keeping track of both the number of pills in bottles and refill frequency,” Marcus said. Properly dispose of all unused and/or outdated medicines. Drop-off sites are available statewide; contact the NJ poison experts at (800) 222-1222 for a site near you.

Taking these steps will reduce the number of teens and young adults using medicine to get high, and will also decrease the number of toddlers and pets that unintentionally ingest medicines.

“Poisoning can occur at anytime and to anyone,” Marcus said. “The NJ Poison Experts work 24/7 to help those who have been exposed to a poison or to answer the public’s questions about a potential poisoning. We also reach out to our communities with information about how poisonings occur and ways to prevent them. Prevention is the best possible medicine.”

“If the unthinkable happens, it’s good to know help is just a phone call away,” Marcus said. “Program your cell phone with the Poison Help number and post it near your home phone. 1-800-222-1222.”

Help is Just a Phone Call Away

If someone is unconscious, not breathing, seizing/convulsing, bleeding profusely, difficult to arouse/wake up, etc. call 911 immediately, otherwise call the poison center at 800-222-1222. Doing online research and learning about medical conditions is a new sign of the times and a must-do for a savvy patient. But savvy patients need to know when it’s important to put down the smartphone and dial an emergency number to get help.

The NJ Poison Experts are always here to help with emergencies or questions involving medicines, chemicals or household products, etc. Help is available in over 150 languages; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Program the Poison Help line (800-222-1222) into your cell phone and post it near your home and office phones too. There are no silly questions and our health professionals are always available to answer a question, quell a fear, provide advice, or intervene to get emergency services on site and prepped to provide the needed protocol in the fastest response time.