Poison Emergency Center North is recording increasing numbers of consultations for drug and medication poisonings

Drugs, mushrooms, medication: The need for information about poisonous things and poisoning continues to increase in the north. The number of advice given by the poison emergency center increased again last year, as the University of Göttingen, where the advice center is located, recently announced. Special attention was therefore paid to drug poisoning.

According to the information, the number of consultations on poisoning or suspected cases at the North Poison Information Center increased by around ten percent compared to the previous year to 52,573 - in the vast majority of cases these were accidental cases that predominantly took place in the home environment. The cause of the poisoning or the suspicion was usually medication, followed by chemical products as well as plants and food and beverages.

“It is often things from everyday life that can be particularly dangerous for children,” the statement said. The greatest risk of poisoning comes from household chemicals and medicines. In 23 consultation cases, a death was subsequently documented.

Increase in cannabis consultations

In 1,324 cases the calls were about drugs. “Most inquiries related to cocaine, amphetamines and similar drugs, as well as poisoning with cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids,” the statement continued. 2025 was the first full calendar year since cannabis was partially legalized. Specifically regarding cannabis consumption, the number of consultations increased by 17 percent compared to the previous year.

The poison emergency center advises medical staff as well as citizens about poisoning and in acute emergencies. The institution is responsible for the federal states of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. The poison emergency center also deals with animal poisoning. This accounted for exactly 1,256 consultations in 2025.