New RAND Study Shows Poison Centers Save Lives and Billions in Healthcare Costs

A new independent study conducted by RAND confirms that U.S. Poison Centers save $3.1 billion each year and return $16.77 for every $1 invested. As Georgia’s designated poison center, the Georgia Poison Center plays a critical role in protecting families and strengthening public health statewide.

Call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222

About RAND: RAND is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. To learn more about RAND, visit www.rand.org.

What the RAND Study Found

$3.1 Billion Saved Each Year

• U.S. Poison Centers reduce medical costs and lost productivity nationwide.

$16.77 Return for Every $1 Invested

• One of the strongest returns among public health investments.
• This calculation does not include the critical work of poison prevention done by every Poison Center in their local communities. This would add to the benefit and is important to note when talking about these findings. Unfortunately, it is challenging to evaluate the value of activities aimed to increase preparedness and prevention without monetizable outcomes and substantial existing literature.

Fewer ER Visits, Better Outcomes

• Most poison exposures are safely managed at home with expert guidance.

The RAND study, Poison Prevention, Treatment, and Detection as Public Health Investments, analyzed the economic and public health impact of U.S. Poison Centers and confirmed their value to communities across the country.

Read the full national study

The Impact in Georgia

The Georgia Poison Center is the state’s designated poison center and the only one serving residents statewide. The Center provides free, confidential, expert medical guidance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and public health partners across Georgia.

• Responds to more than 80,000 poison-related calls each year
• Provides real-time guidance for medication errors, toxic exposures, bites and stings, and overdoses
• Safely manages the majority of cases at home, avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits
• Saves millions of dollars in healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes

More Than Emergency Calls

Beyond emergency response, the Georgia Poison Center serves as a statewide public health resource, supporting prevention, preparedness, and response efforts through:

• Poison exposure assessment and treatment guidance
• Medication safety and dosing consultation
• Substance use and overdose consultation
• Rabies exposure consultation
• Infectious disease and disaster response
• Public health surveillance and trend monitoring
• Statewide poison prevention education and training

Why Sustained Support Is Essential

Despite their proven value, funding for Poison Centers has declined in real dollars over the past decade. Sustained investment is critical to maintaining 24/7 access, rapid response, and the public health infrastructure that helps keep Georgia families safe.

Poison Centers deliver lifesaving care at a fraction of the cost of emergency services.

Fast. Free. Confidential. Always Available.

Save Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222
If you have a question or concern about a possible poisoning or exposure, expert help is always just one call away.

Read the Georgia Poison Center Press Release