Virginia Poison Control Network

The Virginia Poison Control Network (VPCN) provides poison information and consultative services to all residents of the State of Virginia and is comprised of the three centers listed above.  They serve to decrease the morbidity, mortality and health care costs by reducing unnecessary outpatient visits and hospital admissions, as well as improve the quality of care provided to patients with accidental or self-poisoning.

Through outreach education on poison injury prevention, the 3 centers work to decrease the overall occurrence of poisonings in our State.

Poisoning is the second leading cause of hospitalization due to injury and the third leading cause of death from injury in Virginia. In FY2004, 93,383 calls were placed to the VPCN, of those, 71,631 calls were for actual exposures to harmful substances. Approximately 75% of these calls were managed at the site the exposure occurred.

While poison exposures occur most commonly in young children, fatalities from poisoning occur disproportionately among both young adults and senior citizens.  Because poison injuries touch the lives of nearly 75,000 Virginians each year, information about poisoning and how to prevent it is important to every family.

The 3 Virginia poison center maintain certification as a Regional Poison Centers by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, assuring the public and healthcare community that it maintains the highest standards recognized among poison centers.

Learn more about the Virginia Poison Control Network