National poison center statistics, 2024
How many people call a poison center each year?
In 2024, 55 US poison centers provided telephone guidance for nearly 2.1 million human poison exposures. That's about 6 poison exposures/1,000 population, and 1 poison exposure reported to US poison centers every 15 seconds. Cases reported to webPOISONCONTROL were not included and can be analyzed separately in the webPOISONCONTROL Data Analysis Dashboard.
Table 1. 2024 US poison center telephone call case types and volume
| Year: 2024 | Cases |
| Human exposures | 2,092,689 |
| Animal exposures | 34,919 |
| Confirmed nonexposures | 5,082 |
| Information calls | 285,736 |
| Total | 2,418,426 |
The entire population of the 50 United States, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands was served by the US poison center network in 2024. Across all ages, there were 609 poison exposures managed by a poison center per 100,000 population served.
Table 2. Comparison of age groups as percent of human exposures (HEXPs) managed by a US poison center vs. percent of the US population served, 2024.
| Age category | Estimated populationa (US + Puerto Rico and other US Island Areas) | HEXPs managed by a poison center | % of all HEXPs managed by a poison center | HEXPs managed by a poison center per 100K population |
| Children & Teens (0-19y) | 82,736,600 | 1,146,538 | 54.8% | 1,386 |
| Adults (20-69y) | 218,616,152 | 708,091 | 33.8% | 324 |
| Older Adults (70y+) | 42,299,552 | 120,454 | 5.8% | 285 |
| Unknown age | 0 | 117,606 | 5.6% | |
| Total | 343,652,304 | 2,092,689 | 100.00% | 609 |
a The most recent US Census estimated population data available for the US and Puerto Rico are for 2024, and the most recent population estimate data available for the other four island areas (“territories”) are for 2020.
How old are the people helped by poison centers?
While children younger than 6 years continue to comprise a disproportionate percentage of the cases managed by poison centers, poisoning affects all age groups, from infants to seniors. Peak unintentional poisoning frequency occurs among one- and two-year-olds, but poisonings among teens and adults tend to be more medically serious.
As in previous years, most human exposures managed by poison centers occur among younger people. While only comprising approximately 24.1% of the population served by US poison centers, exposures among people 19 years or younger comprised more than half (54.8%) of all reported human poison exposures.
In 2024, children and teens comprised 54.6% of all human exposures, followed by adults aged 20-69 years (33.8%). Older adults (70 years and older) comprised 5.8% of all human exposures reported to poison centers.
Are most poisonings intentional?
Across all ages, 77.8% of poison exposures reported to US poison centers in 2024 were unintentional, 17.7% were intentional, and 2.5% were adverse reactions. In children younger than 6 years, 99.2% of exposures were unintentional, compared to only 35.6% of teen exposures and 64.1% of adult exposures.
Table 3. Reason for human exposure cases as percent of all cases by age group (years), 2024 (col%)
| Reason for exposure | <6 | 6 to 12 | 13 to 19 | 20+ | Unknown child | Unknown adult | Unknown age | All ages |
| Unintentional | 99.2% | 83.4% | 35.6% | 64.1% | 88.6% | 84.2% | 67.0% | 77.8% |
| Intentional | 0.0% | 12.6% | 60.2% | 28.6% | 4.5% | 5.8% | 17.5% | 17.7% |
| Adverse reaction | 0.4% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 4.4% | 2.6% | 5.9% | 4.7% | 2.5% |
| Unknown | 0.3% | 1.0% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 1.2% | 6.8% | 1.0% |
| Other | 0.2% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
What are the most common substances implicated in poison exposures?
As in previous years, cleaning substances, cosmetics and personal care products, and pain medications (analgesics) lead the list of the most common substances involved in poison-center-managed pediatric exposures in 2024. These exposures are nearly always unintentional.
Table 4. Top ten substance categories most frequently involved in pediatric (≤5 years) exposures
| Substance category | No. cases | % |
| Cleaning substances (household) | 87,031 | 10.1 |
| Analgesics | 78,993 | 9.1 |
| Cosmetics/personal care products | 78,721 | 9.1 |
| Foreign bodies/toys/miscellaneous | 69,513 | 8.0 |
| Dietary supplements/herbals/homeopathic | 59,575 | 6.9 |
| Antihistamines | 40,924 | 4.7 |
| Vitamins | 40,343 | 4.7 |
| Topical preparations | 33,739 | 3.9 |
| Pesticides | 29,541 | 3.4 |
| Plants | 28,770 | 3.3 |
a includes all children with actual or estimated ages ≤5 years old. Results do not include “Unknown Child” or “Unknown age.”
b Percentages are based on the total number of substances reported in pediatric exposures (N = 851,928).
In 2024, pain medications (analgesics) continued to lead the list of the most common substances implicated in adult poison exposures. As in 2023, cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants, and sedatives/sleeping medications followed.
Table 5. Top ten substance categories most frequently involved in adult exposures
| Substance category | No. substancesa | %b |
| Analgesics | 132,016 | 10.4 |
| Cardiovascular drugs | 96,554 | 7.6 |
| Antidepressants | 93,287 | 7.3 |
| Sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics | 88,040 | 6.9 |
| Cleaning substances | 74,838 | 5.9 |
| Alcohols | 53,863 | 4.2 |
| Hormones and hormone antagonists | 49,139 | 3.9 |
| Anticonvulsants | 48,947 | 3.8 |
| Antihistamines | 47,044 | 3.7 |
| Pesticides | 39,152 | 3.1 |
a Includes all adults with actual or estimated ages ≥20 years old. Results also include “Unknown Adult” but do not include “Unknown Age.”
b Percentages are based on the total number of substances reported in adult exposures (N = 1,273,419).
The contribution of substance types to the burden of human exposures managed by poison centers varies, sometimes dramatically, by the exposed age group. For example, while cosmetics and personal care products represent nine percent of all substances involved in pediatric exposures, they only represent two percent of substances involved in adult human exposures. Meanwhile, antidepressants represent seven percent of substances involved in adult exposures, but only one percent of those involved in pediatric exposures.
What substances cause the most serious poisonings?
From 2020 through 2024, there were 189 single-substance exposure fatalities among children under six years old reported to poison centers. Pain medications (analgesics) were the most frequent causes of these pediatric fatalities, followed by fumes, gases, and vapors such as carbon monoxide.
Table 6. Top ten substance categories most frequently involved in pediatric (≤ 5 years) deathsa, 2020-2024
| Substance category | All substances | %b | Single substance fatalities | %c |
| Analgesics | 84 | 24% | 42 | 22% |
| Fumes/gases/vapors | 52 | 15% | 36 | 19% |
| Stimulants and street drugs | 29 | 8% | 13 | 7% |
| Batteries | 19 | 5% | 18 | 10% |
| Unknown drug | 18 | 5% | 12 | 6% |
| Cardiovascular drugs | 16 | 5% | 3 | 2% |
| Cold and cough preparations | 13 | 4% | 6 | 3% |
| Alcohols | 12 | 3% | 8 | 4% |
| Chemicals | 10 | 3% | 1 | 1% |
| Antihistamines | 9 | 3% | 6 | 3% |
a Includes all children with actual or estimated ages ≤ 5 years old. Results do not include “Unknown Child” or “Unknown Age”. Includes death and death, indirect regardless of RCF.
b Percentages are based on the total number of substances reported in pediatric fatalities (N = 347).
c Percentages are based on the total number of single substance pediatric fatalities (N = 189).
In 2024, the substance categories associated with the largest number of deaths across all ages included acetaminophen, sedative/hypnotics/antipsychotics, miscellaneous alcohols, pharmaceutical and illicit opioid preparations, and miscellaneous stimulants and street drugs.
How serious are poison exposures?
In 2024, 83% of poison exposures reported to US poison centers were nontoxic, minimally toxic, or had at most a minor effect.
Intentional exposures were significantly more serious, with six times as many medically serious outcomes (major or fatal effects) compared to unintentional exposures. Of the intentional exposures, 7.6% were major effects or deaths compared to just 0.3% of unintentional exposures and 1.8% of all exposures.
Exposures in teens and adults were also considerably more serious, with 21% of teens and 18% of adults having a moderate, major or fatal effect compared to 1.5% of children younger than 6 years. Most exposures in children younger than 6 years (97%) were nontoxic, minimally toxic, or had at most a minor effect.
Many poison exposures can be safely observed at home without an ER visit. Overall, 66.6% of poison exposures were observed and managed at the place of exposure and without medical intervention in 2024. These nontoxic or minimally toxic poison exposures that can be safely observed at home are the cases that are most likely to be amenable to triage by webPOISONCONTROL.
Annual reports of the American Association of Poison Control Centers
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Beuhler M, Feldman R, Gummin D, et al. 2024 Annual report of the National Poison Data System® (NPDS) from America’s Poison Centers®: 42nd annual report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2025;63:1029–1280. doi:10.1080/15563650.2025.2571299. |
| 2023 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2023 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System® (NPDS) from America's Poison Centers®: 41st Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2024;62(12):793-1027. doi:10.1080/15563650.2024.2412423 |
| 2022 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2022 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System® (NPDS) from America's Poison Centers®: 40th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2023;61(10):717-939. doi:10.1080/15563650.2023.2268981 |
| 2021 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2021 Annual Report of the National Poison Data System© (NPDS) from America's Poison Centers: 39th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2022;60(12):1381-1643. doi:10.1080/15563650.2022.2132768 |
| 2020 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2020 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 38th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2021;59(12):1282-1501. doi:10.1080/15563650.2021.1989785 |
| 2019 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, et al. 2019 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 37th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(12):1360-1541. doi:10.1080/15563650.2020.1834219 |
| 2018 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Spyker DA, et al. 2018 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 36th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2019;57(12):1220-1413. doi:10.1080/15563650.2019.1677022 |
| 2017 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE, Osterthaler KM, Banner W. 2017 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 35th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2018;56(12):1213-1415. doi:10.1080/15563650.2018.1533727 |
| 2016 | Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE, Fraser MO, Banner W. 2016 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 34th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2017;55(10):1072-1252. doi:10.1080/15563650.2017.1388087 |
| 2015 | Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE, Zimmerman A, Schauben JL. 2015 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 33rd Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2016;54(10):924-1109. doi:10.1080/15563650.2016.1245421 |
| 2014 | Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Brooks DE, McMillan N, Schauben JL. 2014 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 32nd Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2015;53(10):962-1147. doi:10.3109/15563650.2015.1102927 |
| 2013 | Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, McMillan N, Ford M. 2013 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 31st Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014;52(10):1032-1283. doi:10.3109/15563650.2014.987397 |
| 2012 | Mowry JB, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Bailey JE, Ford M. 2012 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 30th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2013;51(10):949-1229. doi:10.3109/15563650.2013.863906 |
| 2011 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Rumack BH, Dart RC. 2011 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 29th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2012;50(10):911-1164. doi:10.3109/15563650.2012.746424 |
| 2010 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Dart RC. 2010 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 28th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011;49(10):910-941. doi:10.3109/15563650.2011.635149 |
| 2009 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2009 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 27th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2010;48(10):979-1178. doi:10.3109/15563650.2010.543906 |
| 2008 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2008 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 26th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2009;47(10):911-1084. doi:10.3109/15563650903438566 |
| 2007 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, et al. 2007 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 25th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008;46(10):927-1057. doi:10.1080/15563650802559632 |
| 2006 | Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green J, Rumack BH, Heard SE. 2006 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS). Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007;45(8):815-917. doi:10.1080/15563650701754763 |
| 2005 | Lai MW, Klein-Schwartz W, Rodgers GC, et al. 2005 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' national poisoning and exposure database. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2006;44(6-7):803-932. doi:10.1080/15563650600907165 |
| 2004 | Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Rodgers GC Jr, et al. 2004 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2005;23(5):589-666. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2005.05.001 |
| 2003 | Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, et al. 2003 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2004;22(5):335-404. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.06.001 |
| 2002 | Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Rodgers GC Jr, et al. 2002 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2003;21(5):353-421. doi:10.1016/s0735-6757(03)00088-3 |
| 2001 | Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Rodgers GC Jr, et al. 2001 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2002;20(5):391-452. doi:10.1053/ajem.2002.34955 |
| 2000 | Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, White S, et al. 2000 Annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2001;19(5):337-395. doi:10.1053/ajem.2001.25272 |
| 1999 | Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, White S, et al. 1999 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 2000;18(5):517-574. doi:10.1053/ajem.2000.9261 |
| 1998 | Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Caravati EM, Youniss J, Crouch B, Lee S. 1998 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1999;17(5):435-487. doi:10.1016/s0735-6757(99)90254-1 |
| 1997 | Litovitz TL, Klein-Schwartz W, Dyer KS, Shannon M, Lee S, Powers M. 1997 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1998;16(5):443-497. doi:10.1016/s0735-6757(98)90000-6 |
| 1996 | Litovitz TL, Smilkstein M, Felberg L, Klein-Schwartz W, Berlin R, Morgan JL. 1996 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1997;15(5):447-500. doi:10.1016/s0735-6757(97)90193-5 |
| 1995 | Litovitz TL, Felberg L, White S, Klein-Schwartz W. 1995 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1996;14(5):487-537. doi:10.1016/S0735-6757(96)90160-6 |
| 1994 | Litovitz TL, Felberg L, Soloway RA, Ford M, Geller R. 1994 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1995;13(5):551-597. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(95)90171-X |
| 1993 | Litovitz TL, Clark LR, Soloway RA. 1993 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1994;12(5):546-584. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(94)90276-3 |
| 1992 | Litovitz TL, Holm KC, Clancy C, Schmitz BF, Clark LR, Oderda GM. 1992 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med. 1993;11(5):494-555. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(93)90093-q |
| 1991 | Litovitz TL, Holm KC, Bailey KM, Schmitz BF. 1991 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1992;10(5):452-505. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(92)90075-9 |
| 1990 | Litovitz TL, Bailey KM, Schmitz BF, Holm KC, Klein-Schwartz W. 1990 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1991;9(5):461-509. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(91)90216-7 |
| 1989 | Litovitz TL, Schmitz BF, Bailey KM. 1989 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1990;8(5):394-442. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(90)90234-q |
| 1988 | Litovitz TL, Schmitz BF, Holm KC. 1988 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1989;7(5):495-545. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(89)90252-0 |
| 1987 | Litovitz TL, Schmitz BF, Matyunas N, Martin TG. 1987 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1988;6(5):479-515. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(88)90252-5 |
| 1986 | Litovitz TL, Martin TG, Schmitz B. 1986 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1987;5(5):405-445. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(87)90393-7 |
| 1985 | Litovitz TL, Normann SA, Veltri JC. 1985 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1986;4(5):427-458. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(86)90220-2 |
| 1984 | Litovitz T, Veltri JC. 1984 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1985;3(5):423-450. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(85)90203-7 |
| 1983 | Veltri JC, Litovitz TL. 1983 annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Data Collection System. Am J Emerg Med. 1984;2(5):420-443. doi:10.1016/0735-6757(84)90046-9 |