Poison helpline reports 4% rise in calls in 2025
The National Poisons Information Centre in Ireland reported a 4% increase in enquiries, with most cases involving children and household accidents. The report highlights risks associated with medication errors, household cleaning products, and the dangers of misidentified wild mushrooms.
Why it matters
Public awareness of household toxins and medication safety is critical for preventing accidental poisonings, which remain a significant public health concern.
The National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC) reported 11,455 enquiries last year, a 4% rise in calls from medical and healthcare staff and the public, its latest figures show.
Around 60% of calls concerned children under the age of 15, and most of the poisonings occurred within the home.
Of the overall medication enquiries, paracetamol is the commonest drug involved, followed by ibuprofen.
The 24-hour centre is based at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and advises nationally on how to deal with suspected poisonings.
Over 60% of calls involved accidental poisonings, with one in five due to medication error.
Household products mostly involved liquid detergent capsules, dishwasher tablets and toys.
The centre's director said that "one in every two calls" concerns a medication, either prescription or over-the-counter.
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