Do the Math: Back to School Statistics
23 percent of teens report taking prescription pain relievers not prescribed to them. As a medical toxicologist, I see the effects of prescription pain medication abuse in teens and young adults on a...
View ArticleSeniors Are at Risk for Poisoning, Too!
The following post was contributed by the American Association of Poison Control Centers. If you are a senior adult, you may think that poison centers and poison prevention are mainly for kids. But...
View ArticleSpring is in the air…
Along with sunny days and warmer temperatures, spring also brings something most of us are not excited about … allergies. Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the United States,...
View ArticleThe Top 5 Most Toxic Substances in Your House
Poisoning is the second leading cause of injury related death in the U.S. In Illinois alone, the IPC fields over 74,000 calls on poisoning exposures each year—nationwide, poison centers manage over...
View ArticleA Healthy Interaction: Get to Know your Pharmacist
I take great pride in telling others that I work for the Illinois Poison Center. Our call center team is always available to answer questions or resolve concerns about potential drug interactions....
View ArticleOooops…. better call the poison center!
The Illinois Poison Center received 7,709 calls regarding medication errors in 2012. That’s over 10% of our total calls. It can happen to anyone. It has happened to me, in fact. I’ve been a...
View ArticleThree potentially toxic drug combinations during cold and flu season
Not so long ago, if people felt ill during cold and flu season, many would opt for a “hot toddy” drink or an aspirin to help them sleep and heal. These days, many people reach for over-the-counter...
View ArticleSeggsy Mishaps in Toxicology
New words of advice from the IPC: Best to know before you go or in this case, get it on (if you know what we mean)! Sorry to tell you, but some potentially toxic/harmful substances can be transmitted...
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