Poison Prevention

Girl finding drugs

From 2017 to 2020, Cook Children's treated almost 2,500 unintentional poison injuries.¹ In our eight-county service area, 1 in 4 young children lives in a home with medication or household cleaners that are not always safely stored away.²

If you have questions about potential poisons, medication dosage, or a poison emergency call the North Texas Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 The North Texas Poison Center is open 24/7 and the call is free. Calls are answered by doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Call 9-1-1 if your child won't wake up, is having trouble breathing or is having seizures.

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Create a safe habit and be prepared in case of an emergency, enter 1-800-222-1222 into your cell phone today.

Facts

Poisons effect a wide range of ages and 70% of the poisonings treated at Cook Children's are medication related, while many others are due to common household products.

Infants are often incorrectly dosed with medications, either from being given the wrong amount or wrong type of medicine.
Toddlers learn by exploring and putting things into their hands and mouth. They cannot read labels and often mistake poisons for candy or juice.
School-age children who are becoming more independent may make a mistake when taking daily medications without caregiver supervision.
Teens are often exposed to social media and peer pressure. They risk doing unsafe challenges or taking a medication that was not prescribed to them.

Always follow directions when giving medicine to your child.
Create safe habits by having reoccurring reminders. Consider creating cell phones alerts or using medication schedules for dosing times.
Double dosing is NOT twice as effective, and in many instances can cause internal damage.
Adult medications may be too strong for children and should not be given in half doses. Only give medicine to your child that is intended for children.
Read the warnings and follow package or physician directions.

Many people leave medications on bathroom and kitchen counters as well as bedroom nightstand as a visual reminder to take them. Avoid unintentional injury and store medication up high, locked and out of reach.
Keep medication in the original container to avoid confusion or poisonings.
Hang purses and personal bags up high, so children are unable to reach prescriptions, vitamins, or other routinely used medications.
Remember when visiting friends and family it is ok to have an open discussion about safe storage.

It is important to properly dispose of your unused and expired medications because:

It is dangerous to use medication that are expired or prescribed for someone else.
It can reduce access of potentially harmful medication.
It can help prevent drug use that may lead to lifelong struggles with substance abuse.
It helps protect our environment.

Household disposal

If you do not have a drug take back location near you, check the FDA's flush list. Visit hereto check if your medication is on the flush list. Remember, do NOT flush medications not on this list.
If your medication is not on the flush list you can follow these simple steps.
Mix medicines (liquid or uncrushed pills) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds.
Place the mixture in a container, such as a sealed plastic bag.
Throw away the container in the trash.
Remove all personal information on the prescription label and packaging. Then trash and/or recycle the empty bottle and label.
Medication syringes should be disposed of in a sharps container, or if unavailable, placed inside a thick plastic container (detergent bottle) and sealed.

Medication safety

To a child, the colors and shapes of medicine may look like candy or juice. The wrong medicine or the wrong amounts of medicine can cause severe injury to a child's small body. It is important to store prescription drugs, over-the-counter pain medicine and vitamins up high, in a locked or child-proofed cabinet. Medication safety starts with prevention and includes safe dosing, safe storage and safe disposal.

Download a medication schedule to help ensure your child takes their medicine exactly as directed.

Medication schedule

Did you know? Opioids are strong pain medicines that are highly addictive. These drugs are used both legally and illegally, such as oxycodone, morphine, heroin and fentanyl. Fentanyl, is a drug that is showing up more each year and only takes a very small amount to cause an accidental overdose. In case of emergency, keep naloxone, a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose, nearby and as a part of your first aid kit. Ask your pharmacist for more information.

To request and learn more about naloxone visit naloxonetexas.com.

Household poisonings

Safe proof your home in advance and avoid potential danger zones. Take a tour of each room, inside and out, and look for the dangers we've outlined below. Consider what a child can see and reach at their height. The little time it takes to do this can help prevent accidental poisonings.

For young children who are not yet reading and like to explore, poisonous products may look like food, drinks, and candy.

Clothes detergents/pods are often swallowed because they are colorful and soft to the touch. Be sure to keep containers sealed and out of reach.
Nicotine and vaping liquids tend to have enticing flavors and smells that are attractive to children. Hang purses and personal bags up high, so children are unable to grab cigarettes, vaping liquids, and other routinely used products.
Floor cleaners and other cleaning liquids often look and smell like fruit juices and other common drinks. Designate specific cabinets to store cleaning supplies that can be locked and out of a child's reach.
Some plants may be poisonous to young, exploring children, as well as to animals. Visit https://www.poison.org/articles/plant for a list of poisonous plants.
Lawn chemicals, pesticides, and car cleaners should be kept in their original containers with labels so they are not mistaken for common drinks.
Toys that are meant for kids often have hidden dangers, such as button batteries or small items that are choking hazards. Be sure to read labels, follow manufacturer's age recommendations and ensure any battery covers are kept intact.

Safe and Sound Pain Management

Cook Children's Opioid Stewardship Committee led by Dr. Artee Gandhi, strives to reduce the risk of harm from addiction, ingestion, misuse, overdose, and death through best practices and education on the safe and sound practice of pain management. Ultimately, the goal is to build a framework for pain management that fulfills our Promise.

Podcast - Preventing drug overdoses | Artee Gandhi, M.D

Opiate/ opioids: pain med given by a doctor; some opiates are not legal

Other names: OxyContin, Percocet (oxycodone & acetaminophen), Vicodin (hydrocodone & acetaminophen), Codeine, Dilaudid, Morphine, Tramadol, Fentanyl, Heroin

Stimulant: a material that speeds up activity between the brain and body; makes a person feel more awake or alert

Other names: Ritalin, Adderall, caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine, uppers

Sedative: medicine often given for feelings of worry, dread, stress, or panic attacks given by a doctor

Other names: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, benzos, bars, downers, Zannies

Inhalant: chemicals that are breathed in to give the user a fast rush or high; items include glue, hair spray, spray paint

Other names: whippets, poppers, snappers, bullet

Synthetic marijuana: human-made chemicals that are sprayed onto dried plant material so they can be smoked in e-cigarettes, pipes, or bongs to get high; misled as a safe, legal substitute to marijuana

Other names: Spice, K2, herbal incense

THC: part of the hemp plant that causes the feelings of using marijuana; legal in some states for medical or non-medical use

How it's used: lotions, oil, vapor, edibles, capsules, e-cigarette liquid

CBD: a part of the hemp plant that cannot get someone “high”; legally sold in some states for medical or non-medical use

How it's used: lotions, oil, vapor, edibles, capsules, e-cigarette liquid

Vaping: to breathe in vapor created by electronic cigarettes; vapor contains chemicals for flavoring and nicotine that can be addicting like regular tobacco

E-Cigarette: battery operated electronic cigarette that heats up a special liquid into vapor that can be breathed in; the liquid known as “e-juice” contains nicotine and chemicals for flavoring

Other names: Juul, NJOY, Puff bar, blu, Suorin

Help us protect kids from accidental poisoning. Please feel free to use our messaging below or create your own. Be sure to use #poisonprevention when you hashtag your post.

Do you know which one is candy? Kids don't either.

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To kids, pills may not look harmful because they may be the same color and shape as candy. It is important to store all types of medication locked up and out of a child's reach. Practice safe storage, safe dosing and safe disposal. #poisonprevention

Be sure to lock up your medications.

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Kids are curious and often learn by putting things in their mouths. Help them learn what is okay to touch and keep medication and cleaning products locked up and out of reach. Practice safe storage, safe dosing and safe disposal. #poisonprevention

Read the label to make sure you're giving your child the proper dosage.

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It is critical to follow directions when giving medicine to your child. Double dosing is not twice as effective, and may be toxic for a child's body. Practice safe storage, safe dosing and safe disposal. #poisonprevention

Adults may know this is a cleaning product. Does a child see something different?

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Kids are attracted to bright colors. Young children who cannot read may see colorful labels or liquids and think it's juice when really it's a household cleaner. Even simple laundry pods can be dangerous. The pods are soft and colorful but have harmful residue if absorbed in their mouths, noses, or ears. Practice safe storage, safe dosing and safe disposal. #poisonprevention

More than 60% of poisonings seen at Cook Children's are medication related.

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Little kids are curious and still figuring things. Make sure their curiosity doesn't get the best of them (and you) and remember to put all medications in a locked box in an out-of-reach, safe area. #poisonprevention

Deaths by accidental poisonings have doubled since the 1990s.

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Take the time to tour your house and make sure that medications, pill boxes, household cleaners, and even product such as mouthwash and soap are out of reach from your little one's hands. #poisonprevention

Is your home a danger zone?

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Take a tour of your home inside and out and look for easy access to medication, pill boxes, household cleaners, and even products such as mouthwash and soap. The little time it takes to do this can help prevent a lifetime of tragedy as the result of a poisoning accident. #poisonprevention

Do you know how to dispose of your medication?

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If you have unused or expired medications in your home, it's important to remove them. However, don't just throw them away or flush them down the sink or toilet. Instead, they need to be properly disposed of at designated drop off locations. #poisonprevention

Download all social media graphics

Community drop box

The best disposal option is to find a drug take back location which may be found in retail, hospital, pharmacies, and/or law enforcement facilities.

Accepted drop disposal items	Not accepted drop disposal items
Prescription / over-the-counter medications	Oxygen tanks/ Nebulizers
Veterinary (animal) medications	Needles/ Sharps/ Thermometers / IV bags
Vitamins/ minerals/ samples	Any equipment or syringes to administer medications

For easier disposal, free medication take back envelopes are available for pick up at many Fort Worth Fire Department locations.

Get the location list

Locations by county

Allen - CVS Pharmacy 1210 N. Alma Drive 75013 214-383-0174
McKinney - Medical City McKinney 4500 Medical Center Dr 75069 972-547-8000
McKinney - Walgreen Pharmacy 1651 W University Drive 75069 972-548-1662
Plano - Walgreens Pharmacy 2001 Custer Rd, Plano, TX 75075 972-575-8237
Plano - Baylor Scott & White Pharmacy 4716 Alliance Blvd Ste. 280 75093 469-814-5780
Plano - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 3312 Preston Road 75093 469-304-3124
Plano - Medical City Plano 3901 West 15th Street 75075 972-596-6800
Plano - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 6001 N. Central Expressway 75023 972-422-9651
Plano - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 3513 E Park Blvd 75074 469-304-3148
Propser - CVS Pharmacy 201 S. Preston Rd. 75078 972- 347-6375
Wylie - Public Safety Complex 2000 N Hwy 78 Wylie, TX 75098 972-442-8171

Argyle - CVS Pharmacy 111 East Fm 407 76226 940-240-0828
Carrollton - Walgreens Pharmacy 1804 E Hebron Pkwy, 75010 972-939-1977
Carrollton - CVS Pharmacy 2142 N Josey Ln 75006 972-446-1915
Colony - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 4691 State Highway 121 75056 972-625-3784
Colony - CVS Pharmacy 5300 South Colony 75056 972-624-0605
The Colony - Colony Police Department 5151 N. Colony Blvd The Colony, TX 75056 972-625-1756
Denton - Walgreens Pharmacy 101 W University Dr. 76201 940-384-0240
Denton - CVS Pharmacy 3200 Teasley Ln. 76210 940-382-1810
Denton - Medical City Denton 3535 S Interstate 35 E 76210 940-384-3535
Denton - Walgreen Pharmacy 101 W University 76201 940-384-0240
Denton - CVS Pharmacy 116 W. University Dr 76201 940-387-9549
Flower Mound - Flower Mound Prescription Dropoff 4150 Kirkpatrick Lane, 75028 972-539-0525
Flower Mound - CVS Pharmacy 1100 Flower Mound Rd. 75028 972-874-8421
Frisco - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 12220 Fm-423 75034 469-362-8641
Frisco - Medical City Frisco 5500 Frisco Square Blvd. 75034 214-618-0500
Frisco - CVS Pharmacy 7230 Preston Rd 75034 972-335-4979
Frisco - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 8555 Preston Road 75034 972-987-8766
Highland Village - City Hall Rotunda 1000 Highland Village Rd. Highland Village, TX 75077 972-317-6551
Lewisville - Lewisville Police Department 1187 W. Main Street, 75057 972-219-3600
Lewisville - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 801 West Main 75067 972-221-1150
Lewisville - Medical City Lewisville 500 W Main St 75057 469-370-2000
Little Elm - CVS Pharmacy 2591 Fm 423 75068 972-731-8032
Prosper - Cook Children’s Medical Center – Retail Pharmacy- Prosper 4200 W. University Dr. Prosper, TX 75078 945-204-0350
Roanoke - CVS Pharmacy 1305 N. HWY 377 76262 682-831-1923
Roanoke - Roanoke Police Department 609 Dallas Dr. 76262 817-491-6052

Sherman - Sherman Police Department 317 S. Travis St. 75090 903-892-7290

Granbury - Best Value Ron’s Pharmacy 420 W. Pearl St. 76048 817-573-1143
Granbury - Hood County Sheriff’s Office 400 Deputy Larry Miller Dr. 76048 817-579-33169
Granbury - CVS Pharmacy 1101 East Highway 377 76048 817-573-8877

Burleson - Walgreens 833 SW Wilshire Blvd 76028 817-447-4172
Burleson - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 951 S.W. Wilshire Blvd. 76028 817-447-2307
Burleson - CVS Pharmacy 100 SW Wilshire Blvd. 76028 817-295-1125
Cleburne - Best Value Royce Pharmacy 502 N. Main St. 76033 817-645-2445
Cleburne - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 1616 W. Henderson 76031 817-558-9994
Cleburne - CVS Pharmacy 614 W. Henderson St.76033 817-645-2419
Joshua - Best Value Dan’s Pharmacy 3521 B SW Wilshire 76058 817-484-3267

Mineral Wells - Mineral Wells Police Department 211 SW First Avenue 76067 940-328-7770
Mineral Wells - Best Value Waddy Pharmacy 106 SW 6th Ave. 76067 940-325-0734

Weatherford - Medical City Weatherford 713 E Anderson St, 76086 682-582-1000
Weatherford - Weatherford Police Department 801 Santa Fe Drive 76086 817-598-4310
Weatherford - Best Value Hometown Pharmacy 1702 Santa Fe Drive 76086 817-594-3435
Weatherford - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 1836 S. Main St. 76086 817-599-4166
Weatherford - Walgreens Pharmacy 1317 S. MAIN ST. 76086 817-594-5771

Arlington - CVS Pharmacy 5900 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd. 76016817-478-6041
Arlington - Randol Mill Pharmacy 1014 N Fielder Rd 76012 817-274-1883
Arlington - Walgreens Pharmacy 1116 W Lamar Blvd. 76012 817-460-5719
Arlington - Medical City Arlington 3301 Matlock Rd. 76015682-509-6200
Arlington - Walgreens Pharmacy 2200 E Pioneer Parkway 76010817-860-9510
Arlington - Walgreens Pharmacy 3400 Matlock Rd 76015 817-419-0569
Arlington - Walgreens Pharmacy 2410 Ballpark Way 76006 817-861-7661
Azle - CVS Pharmacy460 Northwest Parkway 76020 817-444-7099
Blue Mound - Blue Mound Police Department 301 Blue Mound Road 76131 817-232-0661
Burleson - Burleson Police Department 1161 SW Wilshire Blvd. 76028817-426-9903
Euless - Euless Police Department 1102 W. Euless Blvd. 76040 817-685-1526
Fort Worth - Cook Children’s Medical Center – Retail Pharmacy 801 7th Ave. 76104 682-885-4000
Fort Worth - Central Division 501 Jones St. 76102 817-392-4780
Fort Worth - Dodson Pharmacy 1500 Cooper St Ste 1541, Fort Worth, TX 76104682-303-3900
Fort Worth - East Division 1100 Nashville Ave. 76105 817-392-4222
Fort Worth - North Division 2500 N. Houston St. 76164 817-392-4222
Fort Worth - South Division 7650 McCart Ave. 76133 817-392-3650
Fort Worth - West Division 3525 Marquita Dr. 76116 817-392-4222
Fort Worth - JPS Health Network - Main Campus Pharmacy 1500 S. Main 76107 817-702-1215
Fort Worth - Tarrant County Corrections Center 100 N. Lamar 76196 817-884-3000
Fort Worth - Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office – North Patrol 6651 Lake Worth Blvd. 76135 817-884-3099
Fort Worth - Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth 1301 Pennsylvania Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76014 817-250-2000
Fort Worth - UNT Health Science Center 3600 Mattison Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-735-2000
Fort Worth - Walgreens 6205 Westcreek Dr. 76133 817-263-0962
Fort Worth - Best Value Country Day Pharmacy 6020A Harris Parkway 76132 817-738-0722
Fort Worth - Baylor Scott & White Pharmacy 1250 8th Ave Ste 125 76104 817-922-3800
Fort Worth - Medical City Fort Worth 900 8th Ave 76104 817-336-2100
Fort Worth - Walmart Pharmacy 2245 Jacksboro Highway 76114 817-569-6241
Fort Worth - Walgreens Pharmacy 6205 Westcreek Drive 76133 817-263-0962
Fort Worth - CVS Pharmacy 6431 Mccart Ave. 76133 817-263-8070
Fort Worth - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 2900 Renaissance Square 76105 817-900-1909
Fort Worth - Medical City Alliance 3101 N Tarrant Pkwy Ste 180 76177 817-639-1000
Fort Worth - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 7451 McCart Avenue 76133 817-361-7284
Grapevine - Grapevine Police Department 1007 Ira E Woods Ave 76051 817-410-8127
Grapevine - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 1601 West State Hwy 114 76051 817-488-6682
Haltom City - Walgreens Pharmacy 4520 Western Ctr. Blvd. 76137 817-514-8063
Hurst - Hurst Police Department 825 Thousand Oaks 76054 817-788-7180
Hurst - Walgreens Pharmacy 780 W Bedford -Euless Rd. 76053 817-282-0308
Keller - Keller Police Department 330 Rufe Snow Drive 76248 817-743-4500
Keller - CVS Pharmacy 101 N. Rufe Snow Dr. 76248 817-431-3513
Mansfield - Mansfield Police Department 1305 E. Broad St. 76063 817-276-4700
North Richland Hills - Medical City North Hills 4401 Booth Calloway Rd 76180 817-255-1000
North Richland Hills - CVS Pharmacy 6401 Precinct Line Rd. 76180 817-485-8302
North Richland Hills - Wal-Mart Pharmacy 9101 North Tarrant Pky 76182 817-605-1717
North Richland Hills - North Richland Hills Police Department 4301 City Point Dr. 76180 817-427-7000
Roanoke - Roanoke Police Department 609 Dallas Dr. 76262 817-491-6052
Southlake - Southlake Police Department 600 State St. 76092 817-748-8149
Southlake - Baylor Scott & White Pharmacy 925 E Southlake Blvd Ste #120 76092 817-912-8710
Watauga - Watauga Police Department 7101 Whitley Rd. 76148 817-514-5870
Westworth Village - Westworth Village Police Department 311 Burton Hill Rd. 76114 817-738-3675

Bridgeport - Bridgeport Police Department 1000 Thompson St. 76426 940-683-3430
Decatur - Best Value Renshaw Drug 800 Medical Center Dr. 76234 940-627-5343

Drop-box Location Search

Educational Resources

Items to Request

Dispose Rx packet
Lookalike slim card(English & Spanish)
Medication schedule with magnet (English & Spanish)
Cabinet locks
Poison Control Center magnet
Safe disposal magnet
Poison Prevention Brochure (English & Spanish)

Request items

Additional Resources

Free virtual courses

Poison Prevention 101

1 hour (Virtual - Zoom)

Did you know that 9 out of 10 poisonings occur in the home? Join The Injury Prevention Collaborative as we discuss the three important steps to prevent poisonings from occurring in your home! We will talk about tips for safe dosing, safe storage, and safe disposal of over the counter and prescription medications as well as household products and cleaners.

Prevención de Envenenamientos 101

1 hour (Virtual - Zoom)

¿Sabías que 9 de cada 10 envenenamientos ocurren en el hogar? ¡Únase a Safe Kids North Texas - Fort Worth mientras hablamos de los tres pasos importantes para evitar que ocurran envenenamientos en su hogar! Hablaremos sobre consejos para la dosificación segura, el almacenamiento seguro y la eliminación segura de medicamentos de venta libre y recetados, así como productos de limpieza y productos para el hogar.

Together, Texans are Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis

1 minute (Virtual - Recording)

Fentanyl overdoses are on the rise in Texas. Even the smallest amount, equivalent to a few grains of sand, can cause an overdose. From fake pills to other illegal substances, deadly fentanyl can hide anywhere. Watch to learn what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Watch Video Email Organizer

Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids

1 minute (Virtual - Recording)

More than 60,000 children are treated in emergency rooms each year because they got into medication while unsupervised. Watch this video for tips on keeping your kids safe.

Watch Video Email Organizer

Safe Storage Tips for Poison Prevention

4 minutes (Virtual - Recording)

Safe storage is a key step in preventing accidental poisonings. Learn the top 3 tips for safe storage of medications and household products.

Watch Video Email Organizer

North Texas Poison Center Community Webinar

29 minutes (Virtual - Recording)

March 20-26, 2022 is Nation Poison Prevention Week. The goal of this week is to spread awareness about poison prevention and why it’s so important in our community. Lizbeth Petty from the North Texas Poison Center shares about programming and resources available to families and professionals across North Texas. The Injury Prevention Collaborative led by Cook Children’s and the Poison Center work together to educate and provide prevention tools so that communities can be safe from poisonings.

Watch Video Email Organizer

Questions or comments

If you have any questions or would like more information about our program, please email injury.prevention@cookchildrens.org.

Logos poison prevention supporters

¹ Cook Children's Health Care System. Health Care Analytics and Trauma Registry Departments. 2021.
² Community-wide Children's Health Assessment and Planning Survey (CCHAPS) (2021). Cook Children's Health Care System. Fort Worth, Texas.

Poison Prevention

Fentanyl Can Hide- Spanish Video

Facts

Safe Dosing

Safe Storage

Safe Disposal

Household disposal

Medication safety

Household poisonings

Poisonous products

Safe and Sound Pain Management

Substance abuse names and uses

Spread the word on social media

Community drop box

Accepted drop disposal items

Not accepted drop disposal items

Prescription / over-the-counter medications

Oxygen tanks/ Nebulizers

Veterinary (animal) medications

Needles/ Sharps/ Thermometers / IV bags

Vitamins/ minerals/ samples

Any equipment or syringes to administer medications

Locations by county

Collin

Denton

Grayson

Hood

Johnson

Palo Pinto

Parker

Tarrant

Wise

Educational Resources

Items to Request

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Virtual Courses

Free virtual courses

Poison Prevention 101

Prevención de Envenenamientos 101

Together, Texans are Tackling the Fentanyl Crisis

Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids

Safe Storage Tips for Poison Prevention

North Texas Poison Center Community Webinar

Questions or comments