Oregon Poison Center

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. 

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.

Hazard Alerts

Throughout the year there are often unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes events of interest through out our state. Whenever possible we will provide information concerning these events.

Poison Center Leaders Visit Capitol Hill

Further Cuts to Federal Funding for Poison Centers Will Jeopardize Services

ALEXANDRIA, VA – About 80 leaders from America’s poison centers recently visited Capitol Hill to deliver a strong message about the importance of the nation’s poison center network and to urge lawmakers to support federal funding for the system, according to Marsha Ford, MD, FACMT, FACEP,president of the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

Read the complete article HERE

Poison Centers Issue Statement on Passage of Synthetic Drug Amendment

ALEXANDRIA, VA. – The American Association of Poison Control Centers and the experts at America’s 57 poison centers are hailing the U.S. Senate for its recent passage of the synthetic drug amendment attached to the Food and Drug Administration user fee program reauthorization bill (Senate Bill 3187).

Read the complete Amendment   

Up & Away & Out of Sight

Every year, more than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms because they got into medicines while their parent or caregiver was not looking. The Up and Away and Out of Sight educational program was created to remind families of the importance of safe medicine storage.

To help keep children safe through proper medicine storage, Up and Away and Out of Sight educates parents and caregivers by: reminding them about safe medicine storage; providing them with information and tools to keep their child/children safe; and encouraging them to take action.

To learn more about the program

For the information in Spanish