Unintentional Poisoning - Oklahoma State Department of Health

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Unintentional Poisoning

In 2009, approximately 553 Oklahomans died of unintentional prescription drug poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional poisonings are the primary cause of injury death for people 25-54.

Family and friends are frequently the source of the prescription drugs in unintentional poisoning deaths, either by giving or selling their prescription drugs or having the prescription drugs taken without permission.

Not all unintentional prescription drug poisonings end in death. In the U.S. in 2008, 732,316 emergency department visits resulted from non-fatal unintentional poisonings. Medication is twice as likely to be the source of unintentional poisoning for children treated in the emergency department than other household products.

Recommendations for preventing prescription drug poisoning:

Never share or sell your prescription drugs.
Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.
Keep all pain medications in a safe place that can only be reached by people who take or give them.
Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
Never drink alcohol while taking medication.
Put the Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and cell phone for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access.

Additional recommendations to protect children:

Avoid taking medicine in front of children.
Do not call medicine “candy.”
Do not let house guests leave drugs where children can find them, for example, in a pillbox, purse, backpack, or coat pocket.
When taking medicines, do not put the next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them.
Never leave children alone with household products or drugs.

Related Resources

Unintentional Poisonings in the U.S. and Oklahoma -- NEW!
Fact sheet — Unintentional Poisoning (PDF version) Spanish version
Injury Update Reports
Injury Prevention Works: Strategies for Building Safe Communities — Unintentional Poisoning Injury
Injury-Free Oklahoma (2010): Strategic Plan for Injury and Violence Prevention — Unintentional Poisoning

Links to Related Sites

Child Passenger Safety Traumatic Brain Injury Graduated Driver Licensing Falls Prevention Unintentional Poisoning All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Sexual Violence Prevention Intimate Partner Violence Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System Oklahoma Traffic Data Linkage Project Burn Injury Prevention Occupational Injuries Fact Sheets Injury Update IPS Publications Rodeo Medicine Referral System Oklahoma City Bombing Injury Surveillance Toolbox Injury Prevention Advisory Committee Injury and Health Links	OSDH Home > Disease, Prevention, Preparedness > Injury Prevention Service > Unintentional Poisoning
	email \| print Unintentional Poisoning In 2009, approximately 553 Oklahomans died of unintentional prescription drug poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional poisonings are the primary cause of injury death for people 25-54. Family and friends are frequently the source of the prescription drugs in unintentional poisoning deaths, either by giving or selling their prescription drugs or having the prescription drugs taken without permission. Not all unintentional prescription drug poisonings end in death. In the U.S. in 2008, 732,316 emergency department visits resulted from non-fatal unintentional poisonings. Medication is twice as likely to be the source of unintentional poisoning for children treated in the emergency department than other household products. Recommendations for preventing prescription drug poisoning: Never share or sell your prescription drugs. Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs. Keep all pain medications in a safe place that can only be reached by people who take or give them. Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers. Never drink alcohol while taking medication. Put the Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and cell phone for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week access. Additional recommendations to protect children: Avoid taking medicine in front of children. Do not call medicine “candy.” Do not let house guests leave drugs where children can find them, for example, in a pillbox, purse, backpack, or coat pocket. When taking medicines, do not put the next dose on the counter or table where children can reach them. Never leave children alone with household products or drugs. Related Resources Unintentional Poisonings in the U.S. and Oklahoma -- *NEW!* Fact sheet — Unintentional Poisoning (PDF version) Spanish version Injury Update Reports Unintentional Poisonings related to Medications, Oklahoma, 2007-2009 Undetermined Manner Drug Poisoning Deaths, Oklahoma, 2004-2006 Poison-related Suicides, Oklahoma, 2004-2006 Unintentional Poisonings related to Medications, Oklahoma, 1999-2006 Injury Prevention Works: Strategies for Building Safe Communities — Unintentional Poisoning Injury Injury-Free Oklahoma (2010): Strategic Plan for Injury and Violence Prevention — Unintentional Poisoning Links to Related Sites CARES Alliance Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Video: Prescription Drug Overdoses: An American Epidemic Office of National Drug Policy Oklahoma Poison Control Center Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy Poison Help Poison Help - Widgets Poison Prevention PoisonPrevention.org Prescription Monitoring Program	Q: Do you need information about medicines or other substances? A: Call the Oklahoma Poison Control Center toll-free at 1-800-222-1222!

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