New RAND Study Shows U.S. Poison Centers Save the Nation Billions Each Year

U.S. poison centers save $3.1 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity, according to a new independent study released by America’s Poison Centers. Conducted by RAND, the report confirms that poison centers provide substantial economic and societal benefits for communities across the country. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center (AZPDIC) is staffed by specially trained pharmacists, physicians, and public health educators to provide critical services to prevent poisonings and offer expert support to individuals and healthcare professionals when poisonings happen. Based on recent survey data, AZPDIC saves an estimated $41 million annually in unnecessary emergency department visits by safely triaging and managing patients at home, as well as roughly $56 million annually in reduced hospital charges when they are consulted by hospital staff.

“For decades, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center has been an essential resource for families, healthcare providers, and communities across our state,” said Brian Erstad, PharmD, interim dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. “Their work ensures that people have immediate access to trusted medical advice during emergencies, provides immediate evidence-based guidance, and often prevents unnecessary emergency department visits. The impact goes far beyond cost savings. This center protects patients, supports our healthcare system, and ensures that expert help is always available when people need it most.”

The RAND report, Poison Prevention, Treatment, and Detection as Public Health Investments, found that for every $1 invested in poison center services, communities receive $16.77 in benefits. These cost-saving benefits reflect reduced emergency department use, shortened hospital stays, decreased mortality risk, enhanced public health surveillance, and improved patient outcomes.

However, despite their growing value, overall funding for poison centers has decreased by 8 percent from 2011 to 2024, in addition to a decrease in subsidized support. Amid rising healthcare costs, these budget cuts are an increasing threat to the ability of poison centers to provide life-saving services and essential 24/7 coverage.

In addition to 24/7 guidance to the public and healthcare professionals, AZPDIC also participates in community outreach events and health fairs in collaboration with local health departments, first responders, community organizations, and the University of Arizona. In 2025, AZPDIC reached nearly 26,000 participants from 6 counties across its 84 events.

The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center has operated as a public health service since the 1950s, founded by R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy faculty member Albert L. Picchioni, PhD. At the time, the college was a unique and valuable source of information and expertise to physicians and healthcare professionals across Arizona, despite being less than ten years old. "This was not long after World War II, and a lot of new products were coming on the market and getting into the hands of kids,” Picchioni reflected years later. “In those days, you didn't know what was in the product because there were no ingredients listed on the labels.”

The early poison center was a card catalog of critical information compiled by faculty volunteers, some of whom made themselves available to answer emergency calls after hours. The center continued to grow, with hospitals around the state relying on it as an unprecedented resource. In 1980, the center was formally established by the state of Arizona, receiving funding and its first full-time staff. Today, that initial card catalog has become the ToxSentry computer information system, providing staff and callers with immediate access to detailed information on hundreds of thousands of medicines and household products.

Under the leadership of Steven Dudley, PharmD, DABAT, AZPDIC director, the modern center serves the citizens of Arizona by providing accessible poison and medication-related emergency treatment advice, referral assistance, and comprehensive information on poisons and toxins, poison prevention and the safe and proper use of medications. As evidenced in the RAND report, the center provides a valuable public service with a proven return on investment - seven out of ten poison center callers are treated safely at home. That means approximately 12,500 people every year who do not use an Arizona emergency room, where costs are high. Poison centers are a valuable public health service that is free to users, achieving $16.77 in benefits per dollar invested.

Despite the substantial value of poison centers, the RAND report found that overall funding has decreased in real dollars by 8% over the last decade, in addition to a decrease in subsidized support. Congressionally appropriated funding and some state funding sources have declined because funding amounts have not been adjusted for inflation in over a decade. Amid rising healthcare costs, these budget cuts are a mounting threat to the ability of poison centers to provide life-saving services and essential 24/7 coverage. The report shows that many poison centers are increasingly asked to provide more services with fewer resources.

“This study confirms what we’ve known to be true: poison centers are a critical yet underappreciated pillar of the healthcare system,” said Dudley. “If we were to disappear tomorrow, the costs and burden for patients, hospitals, and insurance companies would skyrocket.”

For additional information, or to read the full report, visit poisoncenters.org/national-impact-study. For fast, free, confidential help for a potential poisoning or question, contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222, PoisonHelp.org, or reach your local poison center by visiting azpoison.com. You can support the AZPDIC and its mission by making a gift today.

About the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center

The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center is a center of excellence at the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona. Staffed by specially trained pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, genetic counselors, and public health professionals, it provides poison prevention and poison management services to all counties in Arizona outside of Maricopa. The center is accredited by America’s Poison Centers®.

About America’s Poison Centers

America’s Poison Centers® represents the 53 accredited Poison Centers across the country. We are united in our cause to prevent poison-related health emergencies in America. Through the national Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) and PoisonHelp.org, our member centers provide all Americans expert advice. We also maintain the National Poison Data System® (NPDS), our nation’s only near-real-time poisoning data surveillance system, integrating the latest information from across Poison Centers