Overview
From youngest to oldest, all people are at risk of unintentional poisoning exposure. The New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, officially known as the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), is one of the state’s foremost public health services with a long-standing reputation of going to great lengths to protect the health and safety of those who live and work in New Jersey. For decades, it has served as the state’s primary defense against injury and death from unintentional poisoning including drug overdose. The poison center is a vital clinical and public health resource for the general public, healthcare professionals, state and local government agencies, healthcare facilities, and first responders. It is actively involved in all aspects of poisoning and public health from prevention and treatment to education and surveillance.
The poison control center’s services are provided through the national Poison Help line, 1-800-222-1222, which connects callers to their local poison control center. The center’s medical staff is available 24/7 and includes nurses, pharmacists and physicians specialized in toxicology. They provide accurate and unbiased information, medical treatment advice and emergency support to the public. They also regularly consult with first responders and healthcare providers in emergency departments and hospitals to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The poison control center’s toxicologists are active academically through publications in peer-reviewed medical and public health journals as well as speakers at state, national, and international medical conferences. Additionally, the poison center provides professional education opportunities for both healthcare students and working professionals, including a Medical Toxicology Fellowship in conjunction with the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.