By B. Zane Horowitz
Updated: 5 hours ago Published: 6 hours ago
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I was there 23 years ago when Alaska's first poison center opened, and I'll be leaving for the last time at midnight on June 30th.
In 2001, Alaska didn't have a poison center system. If you or a family member ingested a drug in your home, you could call a local hospital and they might have a pharmacist on hand who wasn't busy to look into it and help. But that's often difficult, especially in the middle of the night.
When the Oregon Poison Center was contracted by the state to provide this service, telephone access was made available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at no cost to all Alaskans. Trained nurses answered the calls to explain to worried parents and busy emergency medical personnel what could happen and what needed to be done. And, when appropriate, physician medical toxicologists were available to consult with the team at any time.
As our relationship with Alaska grew, our team supported the many Community Health Assistants providing medical care in their villages. We responded to accidents on fishing boats and even coordinated Coast Guard rescue flights. We served workers on military bases and in mines who come into contact with hazardous materials as part of their essential work. And we responded to many incidents unique to Alaska and its residents, including outbreaks of botulism from stink bugs, paralytic shellfish poisoning from eating dog knotweed, and children who chewed too many ichthyoses. We were always happy to help.
The Alaska Department of Health decided to provide this service in July, leveraging services from as far away as Kansas. There will be growing pains. But when I think back on all the times I've helped Alaskans — the middle-of-the-night phone calls, the floatplane transports, and working with tired community health workers who kept kids awake all night — I'm excited to be joining you on this long but rewarding career.
I must also give equal, if not greater, thanks to my many colleagues at the Oregon Poison Center, the doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who have helped you and are always available. Good night to all of you in Alaska.
Thank you for calling.
Based in Portland, Oregon, Dr. B. Zane Horowitz is the first medical director of the Alaska Poison System.
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