Poisoning Summary A poison is any substance that is harmful to your body. You might swallow it, inhale it, inject it, or absorb it through your skin. Any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken. Poisons can include Prescription or over-the-counter medicines taken in doses that are too high Overdoses of illegal drugs Carbon monoxide from gas appliances Household products, such as laundry powder or furniture polish Pesticides Indoor or outdoor plants Metals such as lead and mercury The effects of poisoning range from short-term illness to brain damage, coma, and death. To prevent poisoning it is important to use and store products exactly as their labels say. Keep dangerous products where children can’t get to them. Treatment for poisoning depends on the type of poison. If you suspect someone has been poisoned, call your local poison control center right away. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Specifics Alcohol Poisoning Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Chemical Emergency American Red Cross Cyanide Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Benzene Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In Case of Pesticide Emergency Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs Mushroom Poisoning American Academy of Family Physicians Strychnine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Encyclopedia Ammonia poisoning Black nightshade poisoning Blue nightshade poisoning Bug spray poisoning Caladium plant poisoning Calla lily Castor oil overdose Copper poisoning Detergent poisoning Dieffenbachia poisoning Dirt – swallowing Drain cleaner poisoning Drain opening agents Elephant ear Ethanol poisoning Ethylene glycol blood test Ethylene glycol poisoning Foxglove poisoning Gasoline poisoning Gastric suction Hemoglobin derivatives Hydrocarbon pneumonia Iodine poisoning Jack-in-the-pulpit poisoning Jerusalem cherry poisoning Jimsonweed poisoning Kerosene poisoning Lighter fluid poisoning Lily-of-the-valley Malathion poisoning Methanol test Mistletoe poisoning Nicotine poisoning Oleander poisoning Oven cleaner poisoning Paradichlorobenzene poisoning Paraquat poisoning Philodendron poisoning Poinsettia plant exposure Pokeweed poisoning Potato poisoning – green tubers and sprouts Rhubarb leaves poisoning Tetrahydrozoline poisoning Toilet bowl cleaners and deodorizers poisoning Yew poisoning Zinc poisoning Find an Expert Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Poisoning National Institutes of Health Statistics and Research Drug-Poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics: United States, 1999-2011 National Center for Health Statistics Treatments and Therapies Emergency Checklist Health Resources and Services Administration Start Here Household Products Database National Library of Medicine Overview of Poisoning Merck & Co., Inc. Poisoning American Academy of Family Physicians Poisoning: First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Tips to Prevent Poisonings Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevention and Risk Factors Household Safety: Preventing Poisoning (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Medicine Tracker American Association of Poison Control Centers Tox Town National Library of Medicine Children Poison Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics ToxMystery National Library of Medicine Array Poisoning Poisoning first aid Toxicology screen Journal Articles Poisoning Latest News E-Cigarette Poisonings Skyrocket Among Young Kids HealthDay More Children Accidently Poisoned by ‘Essential Oils’ HealthDay 60,000 U.S. Kids Treated for Accidental Medicine Poisoning a Year HealthDay