Cannabis-related poisonings rising in New York, center says

Cannabis-related poisoning calls continue to be on the rise in New York.

Nearly 700 cases involving cannabis products were handled by the Upstate New York Poison Center last year, with most calls coming in for children under the age of 6 who got into edible cannabis products, the center says.

According to the Upstate New York Poison Center, more than 50,000 cases were assisted by specialists in poison information in 2023, with 79% of calls being for unintentional poisonings.

Here are the top five poisonings for New Yorkers of all age groups in 2023:

● analgesics (painkillers)

● household cleaning products

● antidepressants

● cosmetics/personal care products

● cardiovascular drugs

How you can prevent poisonings

Especially with cannabis products, the Poison Center urged consumers to remember to keep it up, away and out of sight and reach of children.

Here are some additional tips to prevent poisonings:

● Keep medicines and household products locked up and out of sight of children, preferably in a secure medication lockbox.

● Store all medicines and products in their original containers.

● Do not refer to medicine as candy.

● Take medicines over a sink or countertop and put them up, away and out of reach.

● Teach children to ask an adult before eating or drinking anything, since poisons can look like food or drink.

● Secure all household chemicals with a lock and key or use a cabinet lock.

● Don’t leave tobacco products like cigarettes or vape pens in view of children — even a small amount of vape juice can be toxic to a child and just one cigarette or butt swallowed by a child could mean a trip to the ER.

● Have your heating system checked by a professional.

● Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors.

What you should do if someone may have been poisoned

Call the Upstate New York Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 and your call will be answered by a certified specialist in poison information – a registered nurse, pharmacist or doctor trained in toxicology.

Be sure to have the product with you while you’re on the phone with the center because the specialist will gather essential details, including information about the patient, what happened and what symptoms they are experiencing.