Since 1962, the third full week of March has been celebrated by presidential decree as National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), providing poison centers across the country -- including the Maryland Poison Center (MPC) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) -- an opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of poisonings and highlight steps that everyone can take to prevent them. This year, NPPW will be observed March 16-22, with the theme “When the Unexpected Happens, We’re Here for You 24/7.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), poisoning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the U.S., with most of these deaths caused by drug and medicine misuse and abuse. The MPC, part of UMSOP’s Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR), is a 24-hour telephone service that offers free, fast, and confidential expert advice about poisonings and overdoses. The MPC has provided poisoning treatment advice, education, and prevention services to individuals living across the state of Maryland since 1972 and is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers as a regional poison center.
Read the full story on the School of Pharmacy's News Center.