Regional toxicology resource serving Oregon, Alaska and Guam. Emergency treatment recommendations for poisoning and toxic exposures. Learn more
Stay Poison-free
Traveling during this holiday season? Remember to be poison safe!
When your routines and enviornment change, it's easy to forget usual habits. Remember:
- Keep anything that could hurt you and your family out of reach
- Label drugs clearly
- Store medicines safely
- Stay on schedule in taking your medicine
- Keep alcohol away from children
Please review this infographic for additional information: Traveling Poison Safe
Call the Poison Help Line for any questions:
1 800 222-1222
Got Drugs?
If you do - let's face it, who doesn't have some expired aspirin or leftover antibiotics, or a few other odds and ends in their medicine cabinet - you can safely dispose of them on National Drug Take Back Day.
Turn in your unused, leftover, unwanted and expired medicines for safe disposal on Saturday, October 26th, 2013, from 10AM to 2PM. Numerous collection sites around the country will be participating in the national event on this day.
For a collection site near you, check the Drug Enforcement Agency Web site at www.dea/gov and go to "Resources", then "Drug Information", then "Got Drugs-National Take Back Initiative" Enter your zip code and a selection of locations that are participating will pop up. Or call 1 800 882-9539, for a nearby disposal site.
Many police stations and sheriff's offices will be collection sites, but don't let that scare you. No questions will be asked when you drop off your medications. It's free, and the drugs will be safely incinerated after collection.
This event is usually held twice a year, but if you acquire medications you no longer need, don't wait until the next collection date to dispose of them! Many police stations now have medication drop boxes year round, so check with your local police station to see if you can dispose of them there - again, no questions asked.
And remember, if you or someone you know does take a double dose of their medication or the wrong medicine, they overdose, or has a bad reaction to a drug or medicine, call the Poison Center at 1 800 222-1222.
Always Free
Always Open 24/7
Always Confidential
Poison Center Tidbits
Every 13 seconds, U.S. Poison Centers receives a call about someone being exposed to a poison. Over 50% of these emergencies involve a child under five years of age.
In 2013 the Oregon Poison Center received 55,000 calls. More than 45 percent involved children children 6 and younger. Our most common calls for ALL ages are concerning pain relieving medications, including over the counter drugs containing acetaminophen, as well as narcotics like Vicodin and Oxycontin.
Take this time to make your home, cars, and offices poison safe.
Safety Tips
The Oregon Poison Center would like to wish you and your family health and happiness. Prevent accidental poisonings and keep your family safe.
Find out ways to prevent poisonings in your home
Remember that your regional poison center is here to help eliminate thousands of costly emergency room visits by providing free and confidential poison assistance to callers on a poison hotline 1 800 222-1222.
Your Regional Poison Center
The Oregon Poison Center (OPC) is located on the campus of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. We are a 24-hour regional poison emergency information and resource center for the public and health care professionals. We serve the citizens of the state of Oregon. As a regional poison center, we also provide service to Alaska, and the island of Guam.
The Oregon Poison Center, as a provider of 24-hour poison center services to our region has the following core mission and vision.
Our Mission
Our mission is to prevent poisonings and to minimize adverse effects of exposures to drugs, poisons, chemicals and natural toxins. To guide effective utilization of health care resources by serving the public, health care providers and public health agencies, through telephone advice and consultation, educational outreach, research and emergency response planning.
Our Vision
The Oregon Poison Center Web site is NOT a substitute for talking with a trained Poison Specialist. In the case of an emergency, you should always contact your regional poison control center (1 800 222-1222) or 911 emergency services for help.