1. Name of activity:   Poison Information & Education System

2. Project leader and email address:   Steven Marcus, MD e-mail: smarcus@njpies.org

3. Brief statement of mission and/or vision:

The New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES, New Jersey's Poison Control Center) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the treatment and distribution of information concerning poisons, drugs and targeted health issues through telephone management, consultation, education and research.

4. Collaborators, staff and faculty by name and email:

There is a full time staff of over 30 individuals. Faculty include a full time medical director, associate medical director, epidemiologist, 3 full time health educators, 22 information specialists, a PharmD pharmacist with special expertise in drug information, a manager of services, a full time informational technology service and administrative secretary.

5. Specifics about activity:

The system, often referred to as "poison control," has touched the lives of well over a million citizens of New Jersey, by being the calm voices that are available 24-hours a day, 7- days a week to answer the many questions regarding poison exposures. The physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other professionally trained staff evaluates if treatment measures can be made at home, or if a hospital visit is required. They also answer questions from health professionals by providing current and accurate information relating to certain drugs and their therapeutic uses.

NJPIES has saved countless healthcare dollars by providing preventative education to communities and schools systems, featuring awareness programs on poison prevention and drug overdose problems. Each year, NJPIES Poison Information Specialists visit second grade classrooms in New Jersey and distribute information packets to each student to take home and share with their family. These packets, also distributed at school fairs, hospital events and health departments, include telephone stickers featuring the 1-800-222-1222 emergency number, "Baby-sitter Do's and Don'ts Information," and other relevant information. The growing popularity of Internet access from both homes and schools has allowed NJPIES to distribute this information on a wider scale, at any time of the day.

6. Publications from project:

1.  Rella J, Marcus S, Wagner BJ. �Rapid Cyanide Detection Using the Cyantesmo Kit.� J Toxicology Clinical Toxicology . (2004) 42:897-900.

2.  Marcus S, Ruck B. �The Ten Most Prevalent Hazardous Chemicals in New Jersey.� New Jersey Medicine (2004) 101, 9, suppl 34-44.

3.  Vassilev ZP, Marcus S, Jennis T, Ruck B, Rego G, Swenson R, Halperin W. �Trends in major types of poisoning exposures in children reported to a regional poison control center, 1994-2001.� Clin Pediatr . (2004) Jul-Aug;43(6):573-6.

4.  Vassilev ZP, Marcus S, Jennis T, Ruck B, Rego R, Swenson, Halperin W. �Trends in Age-Specific Human Poisoning Exposures Reported to a Regional Poison Control Center 1997-2001. Veterinary and Human Toxicology . (2004) 46:39-42.

5.  Vassilev Z, Marcus S, Jennis T et al. �Sociodemographic Differences between counties with high and low utilization of a regional poison control center.� J Toxicology and Environmental Health (2003) Oct 24;66(20):1905-8. .

6.  Vetrano SJ, Lebowitz JB, Marcus S. �Lionfish Envenomation� Journal of Emergency Medicine (2002) 23(4)379-382.

7.  DiCarlo M, Ruck B, Marcus S. �How should a fever mercury thermometer be disposed of? A survey of those likely to be asked.� Pediatrics . (2002) 109(5); E71-1

8.  Hammond R, Bodager D, Minshew P�.Marcus S et al. �Update: Neurologic Illness Associated with eating Florida Pufferfish, 2002.� MMWR (2002) 51(19);414-6.

9.  Marcus S, Wong MY, Ruck B et al. �Neurologic Illness Associated with eating Florida Pufferfish, 2002.� MMWR (2002) 51(15);321-3

10.  Hamilton RJ, Perrone J, Hoffman R, Henretig FM, Karkevandian EH, Marcus S, Shih RD, Blok B, Nordenholz K. �A Descriptive Study of an Epidemic of Poisoning Caused by Heroin Adulterated with Scopolamine.� Clinical Toxicology (2000) 38(6):597-608

11.  Shih RD, Marcus SM, Genese CA, et al. �Methemoglobinemia Attributable to Nitrite Contamination of Potable Water Through Boiler Fluid Additives�New Jersey, 1992 and 1996.� MMWR (1997) 46(09):207-204.

12.  Leo, PJ, Hollander, JE, Shih RD, Marcus, SM. �Phenylopropanolamine and Associated Myocardial Injury.� Ann Emerg Med (1996) Sep;28(3):359-62.

13.  Rosenblatt, JS, Porter, J, Marcus, S. �Eosinophilia, Lead Poisoning and Toxacaris Canis Infection in Children.� Vet Hum Toxicol (1991) Oct;33(5):495-7.

14.  Weisel, C, Demak, M, Marcus, S, Goldstein, BD. �Soft Plastic Bread Packaging: Lead Content and Reuse by Families.� A.J. Public Health . (1991) 81:756-758.

15.  Holland, B, Marcus, S. �Monitoring Adverse Drug Reactions Using a State Poison Control Center Data Base.� Drug. Info. J . (1987) 21:331-334.

16.  Marcus, SM, Chafee-Bahamon, C, Arnold, V, Lovejoy, F. �Effect of a Regional Poison Control System on Response to Hypothetical Poisoning Incidents.� American J. Dis. Child . (1984) 138:1010-1013.

7. Other related websites: www.njpies.org

8. Opportunities for students:

There are rotations available for students and residents. Single day experiences including discussion about active cases and listening in on incoming calls is available as are 2 week and four week rotations.

9. Opportunities for volunteers:

NJPIES has a train the trainer program which instructs individuals to be able to provide public education programs in their home communities. NJPIES needs help in packaging educational information for mail out.

10. Hidden text and keywords:

poison prevention hotline emergency services

Date revised 03/29/05