Benefits of Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center on Statewide Public Health

Wayne State University Public Health student, Kellie Fehrenbaker (left), and Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center Educator, Denise Kolakowski (right) at a community outreach event.

By Kellie Fehrenbaker

As an undergraduate student in Public Health at Wayne State University, I have had the opportunity to work at the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center (MiPDC), which has been both eye-opening and meaningful. Before starting my practicum, I knew poison centers existed, but like many people, I did not fully understand the scope of their work or how often their services are used. This experience has completely changed how I view poison prevention, medication safety, and the poison center’s role in public health response.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that poison centers are not just for emergencies; they are a critical, everyday resource for individuals, families, and healthcare providers. From accidental childhood ingestions and medication errors to exposures to household chemicals, plants, or recreational substances, poison centers provide real-time, evidence-based guidance. Knowing that trained healthcare specialists are available 24/7 to answer calls and help mitigate or prevent unnecessary emergency department visits underscores the poison center’s importance to both individuals and the healthcare system (Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center [MiPDC], n.d.).

Historically, poison centers were first established in the United States (US) in 1953 to provide telephone-based toxicology guidance to clinicians and communities in response to increasing exposures to medications and chemicals. Over time, poison centers evolved into a coordinated national network that now serves every US state and territory, offering free, confidential expert advice through the Poison Help Line and functioning as part of the nation’s emergency and public health infrastructure (Metz et al., 2026).

As a public health undergraduate student here at Wayne State University, I have also gained a deeper appreciation for how poison centers connect to public health, education, and prevention. While volunteering with Denise Kolakowski, the Poison Center Educator at the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, I observed firsthand how education extends beyond answering calls. The poison center actively engages in community outreach, data collection, and overdose trend surveillance. The information gathered from calls helps identify emerging substance use patterns, medication safety concerns, and seasonal risks. This data is then used to inform public-health messaging, educational campaigns, and emergency preparedness efforts, showing how individual cases can contribute to broader population-level impact across Michigan.

Every dollar spent on services by Poison Centersgenerates an estimated $16.77 in benefits.

The 2026 RAND National Impact Study emphasizes that poison centers play an expanded public health role, particularly in toxicosurveillance, emergency preparedness, and responding to emerging health threats. Through systems such as the National Poison Data System, poison centers provide near–real-time monitoring of exposures, allowing public health agencies to detect outbreaks, hazardous products, and substance-use trends efficiently. This surveillance function means poison centers contribute not only to individual patient care but also to statewide and national health protection.

Beyond improving health outcomes, poison centers also play a significant economic role in the healthcare system. The RAND study found that every $1 invested in a poison center yields approximately $16.77 in societal benefits, including avoided emergency department visits, reduced healthcare utilization, shorter hospital stays, and lower mortality risk. Overall, the national Poison Center Network generates approximately $3.1 billion in annual societal benefits. These findings highlight that poison centers serve as both a healthcare safety resource and an impactful cost-saving public health investment (Metz et al., 2026).

The study also notes that poison centers provide additional societal value by improving productivity, reducing strain on emergency departments, and enhancing preparedness for disasters and public health emergencies. These broader impacts are often less visible but are essential to maintaining an efficient healthcare system.

This experience has made poison centers feel personal. It is not just a phone number. It is a lifeline for parents worried about an exploratory ingestion by curious toddlers, older adults managing multiple medications, clinicians treating severe patient poisonings, and communities facing new substance-related risks. Being part of this work as an undergraduate has reinforced why public health matters and how prevention truly saves lives. I now see poison centers are essential, an everyday public health resource and support system that quietly but powerfully protects the health and safety of our communities.

References:

Academic & Scholarly Publications | Access Expert Poison Research Today. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/academic-publications

Call Center. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/call-center

Coalition for Poison Prevention | Join Our Safety Mission. (n.d.-a). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/coalition-poison-prevention

Coalition for Poison Prevention | Join Our Safety Mission. (n.d.-b). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/coalition-poison-prevention

Contact. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/contact

Educators & Caregivers. (2026, February 17). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/educators-caregivers

Health Care Professionals. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/healthcare-professionals

Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center | Get Expert Guidance. (2026, February 17). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu

Mission & Vision. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/mission-vision

National Impact Study. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2026, from https://poisoncenters.org/national-impact-study

Poison Information and Prevention Education Repository. (n.d.-a). Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://piper.filecamp.com/s/i/HsCHwuKrLW7Esq5a

Poison Information and Prevention Education Repository. (n.d.-b). Retrieved February 12, 2026, from https://piper.filecamp.com/s/i/HsCHwuKrLW7Esq5a

RAND Provides Objective Research Services and Public Policy Analysis. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.rand.org

Team. (n.d.). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/team

Updates. (2026, February 17). Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center. https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/updates