The BC Drug and Poison Information Centre (DPIC) has launched a new public dashboard to raise awareness about poisonings caused by medications, drugs, and other toxic substances. The DPIC Data Dashboard summarizes call trends to the centre and was published at the start of National Poison Prevention Week (March 15-21, 2026).
“We get calls from a wide range of people about all sorts of exposures, but one thing we’re particularly concerned about is unintentional poisonings among babies and young children,” said DPIC associate medical lead Dr. Jesse Godwin.
“Nearly 30 per cent of all our cases are among children aged five and under. It’s important to store medications and all other potentially harmful products safely out of reach.”
Everyday household items can be a risk for poisoning among young children, and some of the most common cases DPIC responds to are children getting into things like cleaning products, medications, and house plants.
Poison centres and public health organizations across Canada recognize National Poison Prevention Week every March, running annual campaigns to draw attention to the causes of poisonings and how people can prevent them.
If you suspect someone has been poisoned by a medicine, chemical, or other substance, call DPIC at 604-682-5050 or 1-800-567-8911. If someone is unconscious, having a seizure, difficulty breathing or chest pain, immediately call 9-1-1.
- Causes of poisoning among young children can include:
- Medications, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and natural health products
- Cannabis products, including edibles
- Cigarettes, nicotine and vape liquid
- Alcohol
- Household cleaners, laundry detergent, and bleach
- Cosmetic products, such as nail polish, mouth wash, creams, etc.
- Car supplies, like antifreeze and windshield washer fluid
- Pesticides
- Certain plants
- Store medications and potential poisons up high, out of sight and out of reach from children. Store dangerous items in a locked cabinet, drawer, or box.
- Use child-resistant caps or packaging.
- Keep products in their original containers so you know what’s inside. Labels often contain important information about ingredients and medication dosage.
- Cannabis edibles can resemble snacks or candies. Follow the same storage practices with cannabis products as you do for other poisonous items.
- Check for expired and unused medications, vitamins and natural health products at home and return to your pharmacy.
- Add the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre to your phone contact list and keep it in a visible location in your home such as on your fridge: 1-800-567-8911.
"Poison Prevention Week is a great time to look around your home and lock up any products that could potentially harm your children," said Dr. Shelina Babul, director of the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU). "This can include cleaning products, over-the-counter medication, herbal supplements, cannabis, and button batteries frequently found in car fobs, toys, and watches."
A good tip is to get down low, to the height of your children, and view the world as they see it - to identify anything that could be dangerous.”
- DPIC is a clinical telephone service staffed by specially trained pharmacists, nurses, and medical toxicologists, who can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-567-8911.
- The average time for a DPIC poison specialist to answer a call is only 40 seconds.
- DPIC is one of five poison centres in Canada and supports around 28,000 cases of suspected or confirmed poisonings per year.
- Calls come from individuals and health care professionals when people are concerned about harmful exposures that may be affecting themselves or someone in their care.
- The new dashboard shows DPIC call trends from 2012 onwards and will be updated monthly. Call trends are shown across 41 different substance groups, followed by a brief description and information about the substance.
- Substance groups range from prescription medications to recreational substances like alcohol, and everyday household items like cleaning products.
“Poison specialists at DPIC play a crucial role in our health care system," said Dr. Godwin. "In nearly a quarter of our cases, DPIC staff answer calls from health care professionals and help them manage complex cases in hospitals or other care settings."
"We also reduce the burden on emergency rooms by walking people through how they can manage less serious poisonings at home, when it’s safe to do so. This is how nearly 70% of DPIC cases have been handled."
The BC Centre for Disease Control, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, provides public health leadership through surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention and consultation services. The Centre provides diagnostic and treatment services for people with diseases of public health importance, and analytical and policy support to all levels of government and health authorities. The BCCDC also provides health promotion and prevention services to reduce the burden of chronic disease, preventable injury and environmental health risks. For more, visit www.bccdc.ca or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
The BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) has worked to reduce the societal and economic burden of injury across all age groups in British Columbia through research, surveillance, public education, and the support of evidence-based prevention measures for over 25 years. The BCIRPU is located at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, and is a core research program within the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute’s Evidence to Innovation Theme. For more information, visit www.injuryresearch.bc.ca or follow us @injuryresearchbc.
The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) provides specialized health care services and programs to communities across British Columbia, the territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured this land for all time, including the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səlil̓w̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations on whose unceded and ancestral territory our head office is located. We work in partnership with other B.C. health authorities and the provincial government to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit www.phsa.ca.
Media Contacts
Joshua Grant
Communications Specialist
BC Centre for Disease Control
PHSA Media line: 778-867-7472
Samantha Bruin
Communications Coordinator
BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
