National Poison Prevention Week

Published 03/03/2026

March 16-20, 2026, is National Poison Prevention Week. According to DSHS Environmental Surveillance and Toxicology, a poison is anything that can harm your body if you eat, drink, breathe, inject, or touch too much of it. More than 90% of all poisonings happen at home (National Safety Council).

Accidental poisonings can include:

• Taking too much prescription medication.
• Inhaling carbon monoxide.
• Inhaling pesticides.
• Ingesting personal care products, like cosmetics or cleaning supplies
• Ingesting unknown illicit substances.

Accidental poisonings are preventable. The Texas Poison Center Network recommends:

• Keep all products in original containers.
• Always prepare and use products according to label directions.
• Never store food and household cleaners together.
• Avoid keeping medicines in easy-to-reach areas.
• Use a medication lock box to store substances that are not safe for child consumption.
• Use safety-lock tops on all prescription drugs.
• Keep household cleaners, bug sprays, medicines, and garage products out of reach and sight of children.

For a full list of poisoning prevention tips, visit the Texas Poison Center Network.

If you suspect someone has been poisoned, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Published 03/03/2026

The Office of Acquired Brain Injury (OABI) reports:

• 144,000 Texans get a traumatic brain injury each year.
• 33% of sports concussions happen during practice.
• 795,000 people have a stroke each year.

Brain injuries are one of the most common public health issues in Texas. Brain injuries can be traumatic (TBI) and non-traumatic.

TBIs are caused by trauma to the brain from an external force. This includes falls, motor vehicle crashes, or sports-related injuries.

Non-traumatic brain injuries are caused by internal factors. These could include a lack of oxygen or exposure to toxins. Common causes of non-traumatic brain injuries are strokes, near-drowning, or aneurysm.

OABI brain injury prevention tips:

• Wear your seat belt and buckle your child correctly when riding in a vehicle.
• Wear a helmet when you ride a bike or motorcycle, play contact sports, ride a horse, ski, or snowboard.
• Watch for slippery, uneven walkways and be extra careful when it’s hard to see outside.
• Children should play on playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces, like sand or wood chips.

Now Available - Community-based Overdose Reporting Tool

Updated 03/03/2026

Texas Overdose Data to Action (TODA) in collaboration with UTHealth Houston announces the Community-based Overdose Reporting Tool. Anyone can use this tool to report suspected drug poisonings in their local community. You will be asked to select whether you have witnessed a drug poisoning, experienced a drug poisoning, or heard about a drug poisoning secondhand. The report is anonymous.

Reporting helps identify when and how naloxone is used in the community. This feedback can identify naloxone as a vital strategy for fatality prevention and reduce stigma towards carrying naloxone, both of which are essential for fighting drug poisoning deaths in Texas. Go to the Community-based Overdose Reporting Tool and select the option that best fits your circumstance.

Questions? Email us at toda@dshs.texas.gov for additional information and resources.

Additional Drug Poisoning Prevention Resources:

• Texas Naloxone Locator Map – Find free and reduced-cost naloxone in Texas communities
• Naloxone Distribution Container Application – Apply for a free naloxone distribution container
• Naloxone Distribution Checklist – Assess naloxone distribution readiness and learn TODA-recommended best practices