January 28, 2026
In 2025, Denver Health’s Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety (RMPDS) handled more than 40,000 poison center cases in Colorado and provided critical services to prevent poisonings and 24/7 expert support to families, individuals and medical professionals in the community.
It is one of 55 poison centers in the United States. According to a new, independent study released by America’s Poison Centers® and conducted by RAND, the report confirms that poison centers provide substantial economic and societal benefits for communities across the country, saving $3.1 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity.
The RAND report – Poison Prevention, Treatment, and Detection as Public Health Investments – found that for every $1 invested in poison center services, communities receive $16.77 in benefits. These cost-saving benefits reflect reduced emergency department use, shortened hospital stays, decreased mortality risk, enhanced public health surveillance, and improved patient outcomes.
However, despite their growing value, overall funding for poison centers has decreased by 8% from 2011 to 2024 in real dollars, in addition to a decrease in subsidized support. Amid rising health care costs, these budget cuts are an increasing threat to the ability of poison centers to provide life-saving services and essential 24/7 coverage.
The report found that poison centers and their national infrastructure have significantly modernized over the last decade, expanding beyond traditional telephone calls to offer text and live chat services that better meet the changing needs of the public and the health care system.
“This study confirms what we experience on every call — fast access to our specialists can keep people safe at home, prevent costly ER visits, and guide health care providers in treating complex cases,” said Shireen Banerji, PharmD, DABAT, Clinical Toxicologist and RMPDS Director. “We are here 24/7 for Colorado families, visitors, caregivers, and clinicians.”
In addition to 24/7 guidance to the public and health care professionals, RMPDS also supports disaster response, medication safety education, substance use and overdose prevention, product surveillance, and collaboration with local and state public health agencies.
For additional information, or to read the full report, visit poisoncenters.org/national-impact-study. For fast, free, confidential help for a potential poisoning or question, contact the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222, PoisonHelp.org, or reach your local poison center by visiting rmpds.org.
