HISTORICAL MILESTONES
The West Alabama Poison Control Center was founded in
March, 1979. It was located at the Druid City Hospital
Emergency Department, and served the 150,000 people living
the in the seven county West Alabama Emergency
Management Services region until 1982.
In April, 1982, the Alabama Poison Center (APC) expanded
from the regional West Alabama Poison Center to a private,
non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. The following month APC
began operations as a state-wide center as designated by the
Alabama State Committee of Public Health.
In 1985, the Alabama Poison Center was designated as a
certified Regional Poison Center by the American Association
of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), a national organization of
poison centers and concerned individuals committed to
research and education. The goal of AAPCC is to prevent
accidental poisonings, and establish and enforce the highest
standards of service for poison centers. The following year the
first certification exam was given to Specialist in Poison
Information.
The APC Director was awarded the status of Diplomat by the
American Board of Applied Toxicology in 1988 and was
recertified in 1993 and 1998. In 1991, he was elected to
Fellowship in the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology.
In March 1998, the APC Medical Director was certified in the
subspecialty of Medical Toxicology by the American Board of
Emergency Medicine. He is a full member of the American
College of Medical Toxicology.
In June 1998, the APC relocated to the Shelton State
Community College campus. In 2008, the Alabama Poison
Center officially became a division within Shelton State
Community College.
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission
Alabama Department of Public
Health
U.S. Food and Drug
Administration
ABOUT THE
POISON CENTER
The Alabama Poison Center I 2503 Phoenix Drive I Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 I FAX 205-345-7189
