Common plants and their toxicity.

This article contains information about plants that have a potential for producing acute toxicity. The two largest sections are in tabular format, that is, a list of plants reported to have a potential for producing acute toxicity and a table of plants that have been used as food suggesting that they have little toxic potential. For each plant cited in the first table, at least one specific category of toxicity is listed, and references are made to brief management overviews that are presented at the end of the article.

The role of drug information centers with consumers.

Heightened concern about drug abuse during the late 1960s prompted community leaders to request that the University of Cincinnati's Drug Information Center extend its services to the public. More than 500,000 inquiries have been handled by the Center since it first offered these services. The Center's "hotline" provides information, advice, counseling, and/or emergency treatment and referral information and is extensively involved in community outreach and prevention efforts.

Consumer focus of a university drug and poison information center.

The consumer-oriented aspect of a university drug and poison information center is described. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center began its 24-hour consumer drug information telephone service in 1972. It is staffed by seven full-time employees, and pharmacists and pharmacy residents of nearby hospitals handle evening and weekend calls.

Abuse and pulmonary complications of injecting pentazocine and tripelennamine tablets.

A current practice among drug abusers in certain Midwestern and Eastern cities is the intravenous injection of aqueous mixtures prepared from tablets of pentazocine and tripelennamine. Patients present with acute hypoxic episodes and symptoms suggesting physical dependence to pentazocine. Two cases are presented illustrating acute respiratory distress with hypoxia.

Popping and snorting volatile nitrites: a current fad for getting high.

In certain social circles a variety of volatile nitrites are being used extensively to expand creativity, stimulate music appreciation, promote a sense of abandon in dancing, and intensify sexual experience. Soon after amyl nitrite (the prototype of this group) became a prescription drug, legally produced substitutes appeared and were sold as room odorizers. Analyses of eight of these substitutes showed them to contain isomers of butyl or amyl alcohol and a corresponding nitrite.

A comparison of four toxicology resources in respect to rates of retrieval and time required.

An evaluation was conducted fo four periodically updated poison control resources widely used by pediatricians, emergency room personnel, and poison information/control centers; i.e., Poisindex, ToxiFile, Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, and the National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers' cards.