The poison hotline is a number you might not think to call for drug addiction, but it’s one that could make all the difference. Leaders at the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center want more families to know that they can call the hotline when they are experiencing a crisis.

And it is a crisis. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, every 8.5 hours, a New Mexican dies from a drug overdose. More than a thousand lives are lost each year, and that number continues to grow alongside increased access to fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine.

“You've got to almost live under a rock not to know someone personally (who has been affected by these drugs) or not know it's a problem,” said Brandon J. Warrick, MD, who is the Center’s associate medical director. “Most people know somebody—a friend, a family member, a work colleague—somebody that they're close to who's either died or had problems with a substance use disorder; it's an issue statewide and nationally.”

In addition to serving in a leadership post at the Center, Warrick is also core teaching faculty of addiction medicine at UNM’s School of Medicine. During his 10-year-long career at UNM, he said he’s had a front-row seat to the devastation drug-use disorders have caused among countless New Mexico families. Four years ago, he decided to do something about it.

How the Poison Center Helps with Drug Use Disorders

In 2020, the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center dedicated some of its poison phone lines specifically for addiction. Warrick said initially the service was primarily for rural hospitals seeking guidance on addiction treatment. Before long, calls from the public started coming in. Since then, Warrick and his team have dedicated more time and funding to expand care and their message that help is always available.

The poison hotline is free, confidential, and staffed by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians trained in toxicology and addiction medicine 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Language translation services are available as well, including in Spanish and Navajo.

These healthcare professionals are equipped to treat and advise patients experiencing substance use disorder related to street drugs. They can connect patients experiencing severe overdose or withdrawal symptoms with emergency services. They can also connect them with primary care resources and prescribe medications to support their recovery further. Narcan resuscitation kits and fentanyl test strips are available at no cost for those who call as well.

Poison center representatives said calling the hotline before going to an emergency room can help patients save time and money if they do not need emergency services. If emergency services are needed, calling the poison center team ahead of time can expedite care by connecting with other UNM Health medical teams before a patient arrives at the emergency room.

The poison hotline receives close to 200 addiction calls annually but has the capability for many more.

“We have the capacity as a poison center to seek out help and look for resources; we have the ability to answer more of those calls,” Warrick said. “We want you to give us a call; we want to be able to help you.”

National Attention

Warrick also noted that New Mexico’s Poison & Drug Information Center is currently unique in this work within the country.

“The poison center in Dallas is learning from us,” he said. “By the end of 2024, we anticipate they will start taking calls as well.”

This initiative has attracted lawmakers' attention. In early August, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) visited the Center. New Mexico’s Congressional delegation has proposed $1.4 million in additional targeted funding in the final FY25 appropriations package for expanding services around information and assistance for both urban and rural New Mexicans battling opioid addictions or exposure to environmental toxins.

“We had a great discussion on how critical the Center is for New Mexico as a valuable resource for so many across the state," said Doug Ziedonis MD MPH Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences after attending Stansbury's visit "including parents providers 911 staff community members who have concerns about ingested substances."

“The Poison Center is becoming part of a sustainable system preventing tackling substance use disorders getting calls related people ingesting substances asking how get help serve bigger role helping practitioners community groups better address addiction impact including prevention early intervention critical moments”

How Can You or A Loved One Seek Help?

The Poison Hotline is free confidential available 24/7

1-800-222-1222

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