Surveillance of the RADARS System by Poison Control Centers: a Pilot Study

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Investigator: Stuart Heard, PharmD
Sponsor: Denver Health and Hospital Authority

Location(s): United States

Description

The Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS®) System is a prescription drug abuse, misuse and diversion surveillance system that collects timely geographic based data. 

The Poison Center Program is composed of 50 of 57 US Poison Centers. Participating poison centers send the coordinating center cases for the RADARS System drugs of interest on a weekly basis. Each case undergoes a rigorous quality control process. Cases are defined as any intentional exposure managed by participating poison centers for the drugs of interest. Intentional exposures are used as surrogates for misuse and abuse. These intentional exposure reasons include suicide, intentional misuse, abuse, intentional unknown, and withdrawal cases.