Always on Call, Maryland Poison Center Builds a Lifesaving Legacy
In 1776, America embarked on a bold experiment rooted in the belief that communities could come together to solve their greatest challenges. Two-hundred and fifty years later, that spirit of service and innovation remains alive at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), where experts are helping save lives across the state and beyond — one phone call at a time.
For almost 55 years, the Maryland Poison Center (MPC), part of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), has served as a trusted resource for poison prevention, education, and emergency response. Whether helping a parent whose toddler swallowed a household cleaner, guiding a physician treating a dangerous overdose, or providing expertise during public health emergencies, the center provides free services around the clock, every day of the year.
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, MPC stands as a powerful example of how public service, scientific expertise, and community trust can work together to improve lives.
Established in 1972, as the Maryland Poison Information Center and later renamed the Maryland Poison Center, the center was launched to provide immediate, expert guidance to both the public and health care professionals facing poisoning emergencies.
What began as a small operation has grown into one of the nation’s leading poison centers. Since its founding, the center has assisted more than 2.5 million people and now manages about 56,000 cases each year. More than 65 percent of reported cases can be safely managed at home with guidance from poison experts, helping families avoid unnecessary emergency department visits while ensuring that patients receive appropriate care.
The center’s specialists in poison information — pharmacists and nurses specially trained in toxicology — answer calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through a free national hotline: 1-800-222-1222. Their work often takes place quietly, behind the scenes, during moments of uncertainty and fear.
For countless families, MPC has become a reassuring voice in a crisis. From accidental poisonings involving children and household products to medication errors, environmental exposures, venomous and non-venomous bites and stings, and substance misuse, the center helps people navigate situations that can quickly become life-threatening.
Responding When America Needs Help Most
While many people think of poison centers as resources for everyday emergencies, MPC also has played an important role during some of the nation’s most challenging moments.
Over the past five decades, center experts have provided guidance and support during public health crises, disasters, and national emergencies. After the 1982 Tylenol cyanide deaths, which transformed medication safety and packaging practices in the United States, poison centers across the country became critical sources of expertise and public information.
Closer to home, MPC staff helped support response efforts during the 2001 Baltimore train tunnel fire, one of the largest railroad tunnel fires in American history. That same year, experts were called upon during the anthrax attacks that followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, helping answer questions and provide guidance amid widespread public concern.
The center also has assisted communities during severe weather events, helping address spikes in carbon monoxide poisonings caused by improper generator use following major storms and power outages.
Through each challenge, MPC has served as a trusted source of science-based information, helping communities respond calmly and effectively when in times of uncertainty. Its work reflects a uniquely American tradition: applying knowledge, expertise, and public service to protect communities in times of need.
MPC’s impact extends far beyond its hotline.
As part of UMSOP, the center also serves as a hub for toxicology research, professional training, and public health surveillance. Its experts collaborate with hospitals, health departments, emergency responders, and public health agencies to identify emerging threats and develop strategies to protect communities.
The center plays a critical role in monitoring trends related to drug overdoses, emerging substances, and toxic exposures. By analyzing call data and sharing insights with public health partners, MPC helps identify patterns that can inform prevention efforts and policy decisions.
Throughout the opioid epidemic, poison center data has provided valuable information about overdoses and substance misuse, helping public health leaders better understand evolving risks and target interventions where they are needed most.
The center also contributes to the education of future pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals, ensuring that the next generation is prepared to recognize and respond to toxic exposures.
Protecting Communities Through Education
One of the most effective ways to save lives is to prevent poisonings before they occur.
For decades, MPC has worked to educate families, caregivers, educators, and health professionals about poison prevention. Through community outreach programs, educational materials, school partnerships, and public awareness campaigns, the center helps people understand how to safely store medications, identify potential hazards, and respond appropriately when an exposure occurs.
This commitment to prevention reflects a broader mission shared across UMB: translating knowledge into action that improves the health and well-being of communities.
By empowering people with information before an emergency happens, the center helps reduce injuries, improve outcomes, and strengthen public confidence in health systems.
The history of MPC mirrors the evolution of American public health itself.
Over the past five decades, the center has adapted to changing technologies, emerging health threats, and shifting public needs while remaining steadfast in its commitment to service. From expanding access through statewide hotlines to leveraging data for public health surveillance, MPC continues to find new ways to meet challenges with innovation and expertise.
Its work embodies the mission of UMB — to improve the human condition and serve the public good through education, research, clinical care, and service — and reminds us that some of the nation’s most important contributions are not always visible. They happen in moments of urgency when expertise, compassion, and public service come together to protect lives.
Every day, every hour, and every call answered is a testament to the enduring values that have shaped the nation and UMB for generations. MPC’s legacy is one of vigilance, innovation, and service — a legacy that continues to make people safer and healthier as the nation looks toward its next 250 years.