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

Maryland Poison Center Highlights Local Impact and Encourages Community to Utilize Free, Life-Saving Services

By: Emily Paterson, MPH, CHES®

January 21, 2026

According to a new independent study released by America’s Poison Centers®, the 53 U.S. Poison Centers collectively save $3.1 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity. Conducted by RAND Corporation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization, the report confirms that Poison Centers provide substantial economic and societal benefits for communities across the country.

Maryland and Washington, D.C. are no exception. The Maryland Poison Center (MPC), part of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), manages more than 56,000 exposure cases annually and provides critical services to prevent poisonings and 24/7 expert support to families and individuals in the community.

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. Nationally, according to the report, the savings that result from poison center services include:

$1.52 billion per year due to avoided health care utilization
$725 million per year due to reduced length of hospital stay
$574 million per year in reduced mortality risk
$150 million per year due to productivity loss associated with health care utilization
$89 million per year in productivity and labor hours

However, despite their growing value, overall funding for Poison Centers has decreased by 8 percent from 2011 to 2024. 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 at no cost to the public and health care professionals.

"The Maryland Poison Center saves lives not only when the public calls, but also through our expertise and partnerships with hospitals and other health care facilities,” said Joshua King, MD, FACMT, FAACT, medical director of the MPC, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and an affiliate associate professor of practice, sciences, and health outcomes research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. “The work our toxicologists and poison specialists do prevents unnecessary emergency room visits and ensures that community members who may otherwise go untreated due to concerns over costs receive care."

About the Maryland Poison Center

The services of the Maryland Poison Center don’t stop at the Poison Help line. The MPC provides a robust health care education program, including a clinical toxicology fellowship and a pharmacy student rotation to enhance students’ and fellows’ knowledge of toxicology and poison center operations. The center also conducts research and is published in many notable peer-reviewed journals. The MPC maintains a strong presence in the community through public education efforts, as well as an online presence through a website, blog, and informational social media pages. For fast, free, confidential help for a potential poisoning or question, contact the Maryland Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org

The Maryland Poison Center is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) as a regional poison center. It has provided poisoning treatment advice, education, and prevention services since 1972. The Poison Help line at the MPC – 1-800-222-1222 - is staffed by pharmacists and nurses who are certified as specialists in poison information by the AAPCC. These specialists have more than 250 combined years of experience managing poisoning and overdose cases. Over the past 50 years, they have helped more than 2.5 million callers. Learn more about MPC in Poison Center Facts.

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.