The Impact of Legalizing Recreational Cannabis on the Children of a Neighboring State.

Objectives: In the United States, cannabis is legal for adult recreational use in 24 states and Washington, DC. Unintentional pediatric cannabis exposures have increased in many states following legalization.We evaluated the relationship between recreational cannabis legalization and the rates of unintentional pediatric exposures in a neighboring state that had not undergone legalization.

An observational study of adverse drug reactions to COVID-19 vaccines reported to the New Mexico poison center hotline.

Introduction: Post-marketing data on coronavirus vaccines are limited. This study evaluated adverse reactions reported to a statewide hotline after the administration of a coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine.

Methods: We collected reports between 1 December 2020 through 30 August 2021 of any individual 12 years of age and older who received an FDA EUA-approved vaccine and experienced an adverse reaction.

2020 webPOISONCONTROL data summary.

Introduction: Increasing use of the internet for health information has decreased utilization of traditional telephone-based poison centers in the United States. webPOISONCONTROL®, a browser-based tool and app was launched to meet the growing demand for online, personalized recommendations for human poison exposures. This study was conducted to characterize webPOISONCONTROL cases and highlight its potential for real-time monitoring of poisoning.

A systematic review of second line therapies in toxic seizures.

Background: Seizures are a common manifestation of toxic exposures requiring immediate and possibly ongoing management. Guidelines recommend benzodiazepines as first-line therapy for toxic seizures; however, there is a paucity of literature regarding optimal secondary treatment. We systematically evaluated the available literature for second-line treatment of toxic seizures.

Stoned on spices: a mini-review of three commonly abused household spices.

Introduction: Although spices are widely used as food products and are generally regarded as safe, intentional abuse of household spices may occur and is likely underreported in the medical literature. Spices are inexpensive and widely available for purchase by individuals of all ages and may be perceived as being safer than traditional drugs of abuse.

Discussion: Nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla are commonly abused spices.

Utilization of lipid emulsion therapy in fatal overdose cases: an observational study.

Objective: Although anecdotal reports suggest that intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) therapy is effective in a large variety of overdoses, the few controlled human trials published to date yielded disappointing results. Because of potential publication biases, there are few reports concerning the failure of ILE. The primary aim of this study was to identify fatal poisoning cases in the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS) in which ILE was administered.

A 29-year analysis of acute peak salicylate concentrations in fatalities reported to United States poison centers.

Background/objectives: The threshold salicylate concentration commonly recommended to initiate extracorporeal elimination, in the absence of significant end-organ toxicity, is 100 mg/dL. Unfortunately, the grade of evidence to support this decision is low. Our primary aim is to describe highest reported salicylate concentrations in patients who died from acute salicylate ingestions.

Dietary Supplements in Children.

High-quality systematic reviews of use of herbal or homeopathic remedies in children often suffer from design flaws, such as not following PRISMA guidelines, inconsistent outcome measurements, and paucity of high-quality studies. Herbal remedies have modest demonstrated benefits with insufficient evidence to recommend any particular supplement. Homeopathic remedies have no role in treatment of pediatric conditions, and have been associated with great harm in infants given homeopathic teething products.

Levetiracetam in toxic seizures.

Background/objectives: The use of levetiracetam (LEV) in the management of drug-induced seizures has not been systematically investigated. Repetitive and continuous seizures that do not respond to benzodiazepines require second line therapy. Levetiracetam has a unique receptor binding site, rapid absorption, no known cardiac effects at therapeutic doses, and is theoretically a good candidate for use in drug-induced seizures.

A systematic analysis of methylene blue for drug-induced shock.

Context: Pharmacologically induced shock can be refractory to standard resuscitation. Methylene blue (MB) acts to prevent nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation and may be a potential treatment for refractory shock.

Objective: A systematic analysis of the literature to evaluate MB in pharmacologically induced shock.

A 9-state analysis of designer stimulant, "bath salt," hospital visits reported to poison control centers.

Study Objective: A new generation of designer stimulants marketed as "bath salts" emerged in late 2010. The goal is to describe the epidemiologic emergence of designer stimulants in 9 states in the Midwest.

Methods: A retrospective review of the National Poison Data System was performed between November 1, 2010, and November 30, 2011.

Passive multistate surveillance for neutropenia after use of cocaine or heroin possibly contaminated with levamisole.

Study Objective: To characterize the demographic, clinical, and epidemiologic features of levamisole-associated neutropenia in cocaine or heroin users.

Methods: State health departments were recruited for participation when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of potential cases by a clinician, a health department official, or a poison center between October 15, 2009, and May 31, 2010. A case was defined as a person with an absolute neutrophil count less than 1,000 cells/μL (or a WBC count <2,000 cells/μL) and a self-reported history or laboratory confirmation of cocaine or heroin use.

Pulmonary toxicity following exposure to waterproofing grout sealer.

Introduction: We report a large number of cases of pulmonary toxicity from 6 regional poison control centers associated with the use of a waterproofing-grout sealer. The identification of this illness occurred by means of the poison control center (PCC) national automated toxicosurveillance.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective case review of all cases of pulmonary toxicity following exposure to a waterproofing grout sealer from 6 regional PCCs including Michigan, Kentucky, Utah, Maine, Arizona, and Nebraska.

Foxy methoxy: a new drug of abuse.

Introduction: In 1999, a new synthetic tryptamine, 5-MeO-DIPT, became known as a street drug, with the street name of "Foxy" or "Foxy Methoxy". By February 2003, the DEA reported law enforcement seizures and/or reports of abuse in 12 states. We report a case along with an analysis of poison center data on this new drug of abuse.