As we near the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible strides we’ve made together this year. 

ACMT Member, Stephanie Widmer, DO, was consulted for this article on a newly identified chemical found in drinking water.

ACMT Board Member, Maryann Amirshahi, MD, PharmD, FACMT, contributes her medical toxicology exptertise on the subject of possible adverse effects from chemical exposures by using products containing black plastics.

ACMT President, Dr. Anthony Pizon, comments on the recent increase in detection of BTMPS, an industrial-grade chemical used to preserve plastic that has appeared in drugs recently tested throughout the country.

This press release was issued on the position statement released by ACMT regarding Florida’s SB 718 legislation that categorizes the reckless exposure of first responders to fentanyl as a second-degree felony.

ACMT has issued a position statement regarding Florida’s SB 718 legislation that categorizes the reckless exposure of first responders to fentanyl as a second-degree felony.

A group of Louisiana health care providers and reproductive rights advocates are suing the state over a new law that classifies abortion pills as controlled dangerous substances. This article cites an ACMT position statement in this topic.

ACMT is excited to announce its collaboration with AKH Inc. and the Veterans Health and Wellness Foundation (VHWF) on a groundbreaking educational initiative.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) has issued a position statement in response to the recent paper by Shearston et al reporting their study found trace concentrations of metals and metalloids in tampons.

ACMT has issued a position statement in response to the recent paper by Shearston et al that their testing found trace concentrations of metals and metalloids in tampons.

ACMT Member Avery Michienzi, DO, discusses the safety of mushroom gummies labeled as “legal” but later found to contain illicit substances.

ACMT President, Dr. Anthony Pizon, speaks to CBS News on the dangers of “chroming” trend.

In this CNN story, ACMT President, Dr. Anthony Pizon elaborates on the dangers of the new “chroming” trend.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) has released a position statement, “Mifepristone and Misoprostol are Not Controlled Dangerous Substances,” in advance of the Louisiana law labeling them as such going into effect on October 1st.

ACMT was recently awarded a five-year, $1 million cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to implement the “Strengthening the Public Health System and Services through a Capacity Building Assistance Program for Medical Toxicologists.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Denver for the 2024 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) from September 19-23, 2024! ACMT was proud to host a series of thought-provoking and dynamic sessions throughout the event.

ACMT is pleased to announce that William “Russ” Kerns, II, MD, FACMT, FACEP, will receive the 2025 ACMT Career Achievment Award and deliver the Career Achievment Address at the 2025 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, next April.

ACMT Member Sonya Rashid, MD discusses the dangers of caffeine overdose in young people.

ACMT is pleased to announce it has been named a recipient of a new five-year cooperative agreement with the CDC as part of the Strengthening Public Health Systems and Services through National Partnerships to Improve and Protect the Nation’s Health program.

ACMT continues to work hard to advance our specialty and support you. Our unwavering commitment to steady growth is evident in the positive impact to our patients and health care overall.

ACMT’s ToxIC Fentanyl Analog Study has detected the veterinary medication, medetomidine in patients seen in the ED after suspected opioid overdose. Data from this study contributed to findings presented in a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released by the CDC.

ACMT recently concluded its 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC. Marking another milestone year, the event shattered attendance records with 444 participants hailing from 41 states and 16 different countries.

This annual award is given to honor a member of the ACMT Education Committee who has displayed excellence in establishing and promoting ACMT’s educational program and who has distinguished themself with volunteer service to the committee. The 2024 ACMT Education Committee Service Award goes to Dr. Gillian Beauchamp.

We congratulate Forrest Mahoney, MD, who received the funding for his proposed project on “Detecting Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in New England Sea Turtles.”

The American College of Medical Toxicology recognizes diversity as a fundamental aspect of the human experience and an essential strength that enriches perspectives, fosters innovation, and enhances patient care. We are cultivating an inclusive environment that values and celebrates every individual’s unique experience and background. Moreover, we challenge efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, given our commitment to building a healthier, more inclusive society.

The Medical Toxicology Foundation and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation are pleased to announce Simon J. Ostrowski, MD of University of Pittsburgh as the recipient of the 2024 MTF/SAEMF Toxicology Research Grant.

ACMT is thrilled to announce the 2024 – 2026 ANTIDOTE Institute cohort.

Products containing PFAS include firefighting foams, to stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, to fast food packaging, and many others.  Our understanding of health effects related to exposure to these compounds is evolving quickly.

ACMT Member William Rushton, MD, and former ACMT Board Member Diane Calello, MD, FACMT were consulted for this article.

Dr. Powell Graham hs been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow.

We are pleased to announce the recipients of this award, offered for the first time by ACMT through a collaborative partnership with NIDA. We congratulate Matthew Dernbach, MD, and Anthony Spadaro, MD on being the ingaural awardees.

ACMT is pleased to announce the 2024 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) and Symposia taking place April 10 – 14 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone in ACMT’s online toxicology education efforts with the completion of the ACMT/ALiEM Toxicology Visual Pearls series’ 50th post.

ACMT is delighted to introduce our two new Board Members. Dr. Michael Holland and Dr. Shan Yin will begin their board service at the Annual Scientific Meeting in April of 2024. Get to know them more by reading their personal statements

Three ACMT Members featured in article on accidental ingestion of edibles by children.

ACMT Member Stephanie Widmer, DO featured in article discussing increase in poison control center calls due to weight loss drugs.

ACMT Board Member Andrew Stolbach, MD, FACMT and ACMT Member Ryan Marino, MD consulted on how ketamine contributed to Mattew Perry’s death.

ACMT Board Member Andrew Stolbach, MD, FACMT featured in article discussing the results of Mattew Perry’s autopsy.

The potential benefits of nalmefene over naloxone carry risk of causing harm. These benefits, if present, should be demonstrated in the clinical environment, balanced with the risks, and compared to naloxone prior to broad adoption of nalmefene.

As the year comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to celebrate a year filled with achievements and growth!

Congratulations to 2024 ACMT Career Achievement Award recipient Keith K. Burkhart, MD, FACMT. Dr. Burkhart will present the 2023 Career Achievement Address at the 2024 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting on April 13, 2024.

ACMT Member William Rushton, MD, FACMT featured in article on the FDA’s warning about Neptune’s Fix Supplements.

ACMT Members, Hernan Gomez, MD; Alan Woolf, MD, FACMT; and Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, FACMT featured in Washington Post article discussing pediatric lead poisoning from fruit pouches.

ACMT/ToxIC’s “Real-world Examination of Naloxone for Drug Overdose Reversal (RENDOR)” project ranked second highest in funding amount.

ACMT Member, Peter Chai, MD, FACMT, featured in Boston 25 News article discussing kratom.

Under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contract with the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) is expanding its Drug Overdose Toxico-Surveillance (DOTS) Reporting Program evaluating patients with opioid and stimulant overdoses.

“The 2023 Virtual Seminar in Forensic Toxicology: Expanding Worlds of Cannabinoids & Polydrug Exposures” is a two-day virtual seminar featuring distinguished industry experts addressing some of the most crucial topics affecting the medical and public health landscape today. Topics covered include cannabis and alternative cannabinoid impairment, and new research on medical legal death investigations involving polydrug exposures such as fentanyl, xylazine, benzodiazepines.

ACMT Member, Lewis Nelson, MD, FACMT, featured in CNN article discussing the accessibility of narcan.

With a heavy heart, the ACMT and Israeli organizers are compelled to postpone the conference to more peaceful times.  

ACMT Position Statement on Excited Delirium featured in CNN article.

ACMT Member, Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT, penned this article. “Rather than stigmatizing people living with addiction, the most important thing we can do is encourage and support people in their journey to recovery.”

It was inspiring to be able to connect with many of you in Montreal this past week ! We were excited to engage with colleagues, see new and familiar faces, and engage with everyone during this fantastic event.

Under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contract awarded to the American College of Medical Toxicology’s (ACMT), the Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) will examine the real-world administration of naloxone by community members, fire and police departments, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.

We are delighted to announce that ACMT has just received notice that we have been awarded three contracts from the FDA to support ToxIC’s toxicosurveillance program for the coming year.

ACMT Board Member Andrew Stolbach, MD, MPH, FACMT and Member Ryan Marino, MD featured in article discussing fentanyl.

ACMT Member Peter Chai, MD, FACMT discusses the dangers of new TikTok spicy chip challenge.

ACMT leadership was deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Christopher Linden, MD, FACMT. Our most sincere condolences go out to Dr. Linden’s family and colleagues. Read more…

ACMT Member Lesley Pepin, MD discusses the effects of unintentional exposure to cannabis in children.

As I begin my term as President of ACMT, I am encouraged and inspired by the warm welcome so many have provided. It is humbling to follow in the footsteps of steadfast leadership that has provided continued growth for the organization and our specialty. As ACMT continues to increase its impact, I look forward to furthering our mission and am honored to take on the challenge that awaits.

ACMT Member Alexandra Amaducci, MD discusses the new, recently discovered synthetic opioids.

ACMT Member Alex Manini, MD and the ToxIC Fentalog Study Group discusses synthetic opioids.

ACMT was proud to join with three other clinical toxicology societies in collaboration to develop consensus guidelines for acetaminophen poisoning in the US and Canada. 

ACMT Members Kurt Kleinschmidt, MD, FACMT and Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACMT talk about the use of anti-venom for black widow spider bites.

ACMT Member Ed Boyer, MD, FACMT discusses the presence of xylazine in fentanyl overdoses.

ACMT Member Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACMT discusses the impact of environmental contaminants on heart health.

ACMT Member Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACMT discusses the new borax TikTok challenge and its dangers.

ACMT Member Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT featured in article discussing xylazine.

ACMT Member, Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT, featured in NBC News article discussing tranq being found in opioid overdoses.

ACMT Member Adrienne R. Hughes, MD discusses the rise of cannabis use in adolescents.

The position of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), is as follows: ACMT supports the role of medical toxicologists in the initial and long-term care of patients with substance use disorders and that they play an essential role in addressing this public health crisis.

The CDC has collaborated with ACMT’s ToxIC, a multicenter research network led by physicians specializing in medical toxicology, to develop a comprehensive toxico-surveillance dashboard capturing real-time data on nonfatal overdoses involving fentanyl.

ACMT supports the role of the FDA to ensure the safety and effectiveness of drugs. Recently, there have been legal efforts to reverse the 2000 U.S. FDA approval of mifepristone, a medication with over two decades of established safety and efficacy. Revoking mifepristone approval would not only undermine the robust FDA approval process and overturn precedent on scientific regulation of drugs, but will limit access to the medication, which will have harmful consequences.

The DEA has recently released specific guidance to help healthcare providers enhance their expertise in addressing substance use disorder (SUD). As part of this guidance, mandated by the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, healthcare prescribers are now required to complete 8 hours of training in order to renew their DEA license. With a goal of improving patient care, ACMT was a co-sponsor of this act. ACMT is pleased to offer a new webinar-based education option to assist our members in meeting these requirements.

ACMT Member Michael Young, MD, FACMT discusses the dangers of lead contamination for children.

The Medical Toxicology Foundation and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Foundation are pleased to announce that Mehruba A. Parris, MD, FACMT is the recipient of the 2023 MTF/SAEMF Toxicology Research Grant.

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that on May 1st, 2023, the ANTIDOTE program, a collaborative effort between ACMT, the ToxInnovation Lab (UMASS), and the Chai Lab (Harvard Medical School), was granted funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through an R25 mechanism.

Because the term “excited delirium” is used in multiple distinct contexts with various underlying causes, and has become associated with racism, it is time to discontinue the use of this term. The term “hyperactive delirium with agitation” more accurately describes the undifferentiated presentation of patients with disorientation who appear aggressive or have vital signs suggestive of excessive adrenergic activity. When possible, the underlying cause of death should be listed on the death certificate.

This annual award is given to honor a member of the ACMT Education Committee who has displayed excellence in establishing and promoting ACMT’s educational program and who has distinguished themself with volunteer service to the committee.

We are is excited to introduce the new officers for ACMT’s Medical Toxicology Fellows in Training Association (MTFITA)!

With 400 attendees, the American College of Medical Toxicology’s 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in San Diego was the highest attended ASM in our organization’s history. We had attendees participate from 41 U.S. States and 7 countries, showcasing our continued national reach and international presence. 

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), a professional membership organization of physicians who specialize in the treatment of poisoning and chemical exposures, has been closely following the events following the train derailment and subsequent fire that occurred on February 3, 2023  in East Palestine, OH.

Congratulations to ACMT’s Executive Director, Dr. Paul Wax, for his appointment to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee on Toxicology. 

Dr. Michael Toce has just published his study entitled “Association of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs with Opioid Prescribing and Overdose in Adolescents and Young Adults” in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

The American College of Medical Toxicology and the Medical Toxicology Foundation are pleased to announce that Courtney Temple, MD is the inaugural recipient of the Charles E. Becker Medal for Outstanding Achievement as a Medical Toxicology Fellow.

Congratulations to 2023 ACMT Career Achievement Award recipient B. Zane Horowitz, MD, FACMT. Dr. Horowitz will present the 2023 Career Achievement Address at the 2023 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting on April 1, 2023.

The Medical Toxicology Foundation continues to receive an overwhelming response to its travel award opportunities. Travel awards were established to provide medical trainees – students and residents a stipend to attend ACMT’s Annual Scientific Meeting.

American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) symposium will address the ethics, psychology, management, and global epidemiology of the suicidal patient through a toxicology lens. 

This report shares the impact your gifts have had and will continue to have on our field, our members, and our organizations. Please take a few moments to read through this report and join us in celebrating the impact these gifts have in so many ways.

ACMT is delighted to introduce our four new Board Members. Dr. Kavita Babu, Dr. Rob Hendrickson, Dr. Kathryn Kopec, and Dr. Trevonne Thompson were elected to the Board. They will begin their board service at the Annual Scientific Meeting in March of 2023. Get to know them more by reading each other their personal statements below.

We congratulate Emily Kiernan, DO, assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology, who has been awarded a $2 million Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) grant to implement tele-addiction services in rural counties in the state of Georgia as part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Behavioral Health Care Support.

The Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) has received a 2-year grant to continue its toxicosurveillance Novel Opioids and Stimulant Exposure (NOSE) project.

We are thrilled to announce that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded ACMT a new 5-year $7.9 million contract to expand ACMT’s Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) drug surveillance activities.

At the recent ACMT Board meeting at NACCT, the Board members elected Andrew Stolbach to the Executive Committee where he will begin his term immediately following the 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in San Diego next spring. 

Thank you to everyone who attended ACMT’s activities at 2022 NACCT. It was so wonderful to see so many colleagues in-person!

At the conclusion of an excellent NACCT in San Francisco, words cannot fully express how much I enjoyed meeting in person again. From the rigorous educational discussions of current toxicologic issues, to networking and socializing with friends from all over the world, I am reminded of how much I value and respect our toxicology community and the bonds and missions we share.

Mark E. Thoman, MD, FACMT passed away on September 19, 2022 in Tucson, Arizona after a brief illness. Mark was a founding member of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology in 1968, and served as AACT President from 1982-1984.

ACMT mourns the untimely loss of friend, colleague, and longtime ACMT member, J David Barry, who passed Friday, September 2, 2022. 

It is with great sadness that the American College of Medical Toxicology shares news of the passing of Charles (Chuck) Becker, MD, FACMT on Wednesday, August 17th , at the age of 82.

Excerpted from the ACMT Code of Ethics For Medical Toxicologists approved July 2015.

In July of 2022 ToxIC  was awarded a supplemental subcontract to the Icahn School of Medicine R01 from NIDA (Alex Manini, MD, MS, FACMT, Principal Investigator).

It is with great sadness that the American College of Medical Toxicology shares news of the passing of Steven Seifert, MD, FACMT on Wednesday, May 18th.

Kavita Babu, MD, FACMT authored an article on fentanyl for The Conversation.

There was a large presence of American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) members presenting at the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Annual Conference, which was held in Hollywood, Florida from March 31-April 3rd, 2022. 

Important study findings recently published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology (JMT) dovetail with the new change in the Data 2000 (“X”) Waiver process for prescribing buprenorphine. Findings demonstrate that a brief education session led clinicians to an increase in the recognition of opioid withdrawal and initiation of buprenorphine treatment for patients in the emergency department.

There was a large presence of American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) members presenting at the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Annual Conference, which was held in Hollywood, Florida from March 31-April 3rd, 2022. 

ACMT’s SAMHSA grant provides education to emergency medicine residents and medical toxicology fellows on Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

This one-day symposium draws on the expertise of professionals from multiple medical and social science fields to address drug/medication-related issues and psychosocial issues faced by pregnant women who have substance use disorders. This event, which will take place on Thursday, March 10, kicks off 4 days of programming as part of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting. 

ACMT is excited to introduce the new officers for ACMT’s Fellows in Training Association!

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held virtually from Friday, March 11 through Sunday, March 13th. This event will be preceded by ACMT’s 1-Day Virtual Symposium “Drug Science Meets Social Science: Substance Use, Pregnancy, and Baby” on Thursday, March 10.

Congratulations to 2022 Ellenhorn Award recipient Steven A. Seifert, MD, FAACT, FACMT. Dr. Seifert will present the 2022 Ellenhorn Address at the 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting on March 12th.

As the year winds down I am filled with a sense of gratitude. Despite the ongoing pandemic and the continuing challenges we are all facing, I have to stop and reflect on the positive and look toward what I hope to be a brighter future.

Paul Dargan, MD, FACMT, Consultant Physician and Professor of Toxicology, Guys & St. Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK was an active member in the World Health Organization’s Guideline Development Group and played a prominent role in the public release of the WHO guideline for clinical management of exposure to lead in October 2021.

On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, ACMT members Mark Kirk (Director of Chemical Defense, Office for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, U.S. Department of Homeland Security), Charles McKay, and Paul Wax delivered presentations on toxic industrial chemicals as agents of opportunity for terrorism as part of a one-day US-Mexico Biosurveillance and Chemical Defense Seminar.

ACMT is taking steps to promote diversity, inclusion, and health equity within the medical toxicology community as well as the College. Doing so will help us/ACMT to fulfill our mission and provide the best care to our patients.

Thank you to everyone who attended ACMT’s activities at 2021 NACCT.

Thank you for the welcoming encouragement as I started my term as President of ACMT at the Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting.

Though modified due to the pandemic, WiT has continued to meet virtually and to support our members during 2021. 

The 2nd edition of the EMRA and ACMT Medical Toxicology Guide is in the works with an expected release in June 2022.

The American College of Medical Toxicology Practice Committee held a moderated panel discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical toxicology practice. Panelists were from a diverse geographic and practice setting.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) Fentanyl Analog Study has detected an outbreak of illicit benzodiazepine co-exposures in patients seen in the emergency department.

Dr. Diane Calello became a member of ACMT in 2001, and her second term as an ACMT Board Member runs from 2020-2023. She is currently the Executive and Medical Director at New Jersey Poison Information and Education System and also a Professor of Emergency Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey. We are pleased to be able to get to know Dr. Calello a little better through this brief interview.

The American College of Medical Toxicology’s Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC) has received several reports of patients who became ill from using ivermectin formulations to prevent or treat COVID-19 infection. These incidents were reported through ToxIC’s FDA ACMT COVID-19 ToxIC (FACT) Pharmacovigilance Project Sub-registry between October 2020 and August 2021.

As a past president of the American College of Medical Toxicology and board member for the Medical Toxicology Foundation, Dr. Donovan had a passionate, lifetime commitment to medical toxicology. To support that commitment Dr. Donovan left a legacy gift to the Medical Toxicology Foundation to support and ensure the ongoing work of drug abuse/addiction toxicology in memory of his son who passed away several years ago.

Dr. Mark Mycyk became a member of ACMT in 2000, and his term as an ACMT Board Member runs from 2021-2024. He is currently a Chair of Research of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cook County Health in Chicago, Illinois. We are pleased to be able to get to know Dr. Mycyk a little better through this brief interview.

Dr. Anthony Pizon became a member of ACMT in 2004, and his term as ACMT Vice President runs from 2021-2023. He is currently a Professor in Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We are pleased to be able to get to know Dr. Pizon a little better through this brief interview.

Dr. Ziad Kazzi became a member of ACMT in 2003, and his term as ACMT Secretary/Treasurer runs from 2021-2023. He is currently Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. We are pleased to be able to get to know Dr. Kazzi a little better through this brief interview.

Dr. Louise Kao became a member of ACMT in 2000, and her term as ACMT Board President runs from 2021-2023. She is currently Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology Fellowship Director at Indiana University School of Medicine. We are pleased to be able to get to know Dr. Kao a little better through this brief interview.

ACMT is delighted to introduce our new Vice President Dr. Anthony Pizon and Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Ziad Kazzi for the 2021-2023 term. Dr. Pizon and Dr. Kazzi have both demonstrated excellent service to the college and leadership.

ACMT is delighted to introduce our two new Board Members. Dr. Christina Hantsch and Dr. Mark Mycyk were elected to the Board at the fall 2020 ACMT Board meeting. They will serve for the 2021-2023 term.

With 383 attendees, the American College of Medical Toxicology’s 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on April 14-16 was the highest attended ASM in the history of ACMT.

Congratulations to 2021 Ellenhorn Award recipient Leslie Boyer, MD, FACMT. Dr. Boyer will present the 2021 Ellenhorn Address at ASM on April 14th.

March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s official designation of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The response of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) to the pandemic has been immediate, urgent, and continuous. In March 2020, ACMT formed a task force of ACMT/medical toxicology professionals to lead its COVID-19 response and provide technical expertise.

March 2021 marks the one-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s official designation of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The response of the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) to the pandemic has been immediate, urgent, and continuous.

Medical toxicologists can play an important role in the recognition and reporting of adverse vaccine events.

Registration is open for ACMT’s virtual 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting, April 14-16.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) will offer a one-day virtual symposium entitled “The 4th Wave: Methamphetamines and Stimulants” on Wednesday, April 13, 2020. The symposium will feature cutting-edge research examining current trends of methamphetamine and stimulant use and will appeal to healthcare providers and researchers involved with the care of patients with substance use disorders.

The webinar series that was initiated in 2018 as the “3rd Friday Addiction/Toxicology Case Conference” has grown its reach and accessibility significantly over the course of 2020.

ToxIC is excited to announce a new grant to partner with the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) and its Opioid Response Network (ORN).

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) will present the 2021 Virtual ‘Total Tox  Course’ on three Fridays in February – the 5th, 12th, and 19th. Attendees may choose to register  for one, two, or for the complete course, all three days. The course is intended for a wide array  of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, EMTs, first  responders, and others.  

Dr. Satish Pillai, a Senior Liaison to Operation Warp Speed, will be the featured speaker for a January 6th, 2021 webinar offered by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT.) Dr. Pillai will give an update on the current status of distribution and implementation strategies for COVID-19 vaccinations.

At the fall 2020 ACMT Board meeting, Dr. Ziad Kazzi was elected as Secretary/Treasurer to the ACMT Board of Directors to serve for the 2021-2023 term.

The COVID-19 Sub-Registry will be developed as an enhanced data collection tool within the ToxIC network that will specifically focus on identifying potential adverse reactions related to COVID-19 drug treatments. Physicians specialized in medical toxicology will oversee the program at 15 designated medical centers across various geographic regions in the United States.

Dr. Sara H. Goza, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics will be the featured speaker  for a November 4th webinar offered by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT.)  Dr. Goza will address the topic of rising rates of COVID-19 infections among children and teens and recommend ways to keep families and communities safe as in-person classes resume. 

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) has released a statement supporting a vaccine approval process that is based on principles of medical science and free from political interference.

As physicians with expertise in pharmacology, adverse drug effects, and public health we are familiar with the many benefits and rare risks of vaccination. A COVID-19  vaccine, when and if available, promises to become a key part of our multifaceted approach to address the current public health crisis.

This year’s Board Review Course, August 25-28, 2020, is one for the history books!

With great interest and concern, we have followed media reports of ketamine being administered by paramedics for sedating individuals at the direction of law enforcement officers to facilitate taking them into custody. 

Each year, the Medical Toxicology Foundation receives and reviews applications for innovative projects that support the Foundation’s mission to advance research and education in the prevention and treatment of patients adversely impacted by drugs, chemicals, and natural toxins.

ACMT is excited to welcome the new Co-Chairs of the ACMT Recent Graduates Section, Ryan Marino, MD, Brian Patrick Murray, DO, and Sarah Shafer, MD

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT), and  the American Association of Poison Control Centers has issued the following joint statement in response to recent  discussions proposing use of oleandrin as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

ACMT has received funding from the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP) to support and enhance the addiction toxicology case conference.

As pressure mounts for schools to reopen this fall, awareness is growing of the need for specific plans on how schools will protect the health of children and their families, teachers, administrators, and school staff. The American College of Medical Toxicology’s COVID-19 webinar series has invited Healthy Schools Network Founder and Executive Director, Claire Barnett to provide expert guidance on this important topic on Wednesday, July 29 at 3:00 pm ET.

ACMT is saddened to announce the passing of Dr. J. Ward Donovan, who died on June 27, 2020.

From May through August 2020, ACMT’s recurring “3rd Friday Addiction Toxicology Case Conference” will be a joint webinar series hosted by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). 

As physicians, we are motivated by the principles of benevolence, nonmaleficence, and equity. We are deeply shaken by the deaths of George Floyd in the custody of police in Minneapolis, emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. We recognize that there are others who have lost their lives without media recognition.

In April 2020, the Toxicology Investigator’s Consortium was awarded a 5-year subcontract to the Icahn School of Medicine on a new R01 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

JMT has continued to publish on time even during the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The CDC has awarded ACMT a contract for access to data from the ToxIC Patient Registry, as part of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP) to enhance drug overdose surveillance.

Since initiating the online series “Medical & Public Health Considerations of COVID-19” on March 25, we have produced 6 webinars and one town hall Q & A session.

American College of Medical Toxicology offers free webinar “Medical Experts Explain the Use and Potential Adverse Effects of Chloroquine & Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19”

This award has been given annually for the last decade to encourage trainees who are underrepresented in medicine to attend ACMT’s Annual Scientific Meeting to help expand the racial and ethnic diversity of medical toxicologists.

This award has been given annually to a junior resident in an ACGME- or AOA-accredited program since Dr. Spadafora’s death 2 decades ago.

Congratulations to 2020 Ellenhorn Award recipient Erica Liebelt, MD, FACMT. Dr. Liebelt will present the 2020 Ellenhorn Address at ASM on March 14th.

Registration is open for two exciting ACMT events in March 2020 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. 

The American College of Medical Toxicology has been awarded $500,000 from the Substance  Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop high quality,  comprehensive curriculum on identification and treatment of SUDs. 

ACMT will present the 2019 ‘Total Tox Course’ on Monday, December 9 – Wednesday, December 11, 2019, in Washington, DC. The Total Tox Course is a comprehensive review of the scope of emergency toxicology and will include up-to-date interventions and management options for poisoned patients. Prominent experts in medical toxicology and emergency medicine will lead the course. 

ACMT presents the 2019 ‘Seminar in Forensic Toxicology: Criminal Poisoning & Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault: Forensic, Legal, and Medical Aspects’ on Monday, December 9 – Tuesday, December 10, 2019, in Washington, DC. 

The American College of Medical Toxicology recently published a Position Statement that strongly recommends removing the waiver (‘X-waiver’) requirement for prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). ACMT’s position has been endorsed by the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

ACMT Board Member Andrew Stolbach, MD, MPH, FACMT provides a consult on fentanyl.

ACMT Members Lewis Nelson, MD, FACMT and Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT discusses fentanyl and passive toxicity.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) recently concluded its 16th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco (April 11-14), where 162 research abstracts and more than 25 expert lectures on human poisoning were presented to an international group of more than 300 attendees from various medical specialties. Several ACMT members also received awards for research and service to ACMT and the field of Medical Toxicology.  

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) just concluded its 16th Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco (April 11-14), where 162 research abstracts and more than 25 expert lectures on human poisoning were presented to an international group of more than 300 attendees from various medical specialties.  

ACMT Member Ryan Marino, MD featured in article discussing myth that touching fentanyl can cause an overdose.

ACMT’s joint statement featured in New York Times editorial.

With generous support from the Independence Blue Cross Foundation under the Supporting Treatment and Overdose Prevention (STOP) program, the Medical Toxicology Foundation presents ‘Curbing the Opioid Crisis in Philadelphia: Increasing Emergency Department Initiation of Buprenorphine-Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder’ in part as a response to spiking overdose deaths in Philadelphia.

“Microplastics and Human Health: Our Great Future to Think About Now” by Amy V. Kontrick, MD, published in the Journal of Medical Toxicology (April 2018), is among the top 10 downloaded articles in 2018 from all Springer Nature journals in the Pharmacology & Toxicology category.

Researchers from the American College of Medical Toxicology’s (ACMT’s) Toxicology Investigators Consortium (ToxIC), publish a study on poisoning with malicious or criminal intent with data collected from ToxIC’s case registry. 

Registration is open for ACMT’s ‘Legal Cannabis: Medical, Toxicological and Public Health Implications,’ a full day symposium on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at the  Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, CA.  

Registration is open for ACMT’s ‘New Frontiers in Medical Toxicology: Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine,’ a full day symposium on Thursday, April 11, 2019 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, CA.

ACMT Members, Lewis Nelson, MD, FACMT and Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, FACMT, featured in Stat article discussing fentanyl exposure.

Join the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) at the 2018 Seminar in Forensic Toxicology ‘Opioids, Toxicology, and the Law: Medical-Legal Aspects of the Opioid Epidemic’ on Thursday, December 13, and Friday, December 14, 2018, in Dallas, TX. 

A new video offers precautions and key messages for first responders who may come in contact with Fentanyl.

Join us in Chicago for ACMT’s ‘Total Tox Course’ for emergency providers on September 5— September 7. Register by July 25 to get the early-bird discount!

An outbreak of major bleeding complications associated with synthetic cannabinoid use may be caused by brodifacoum and other related contaminants

ACMT’s 2018 Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will be held Friday, April 6—Sunday, April 8, at the  Washington Marriott Georgetown in Washington DC. Our annual Satellite Session, ‘Toxic  Threats, Chemical Security, and Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals’ will precede ASM on Thursday,  April 5, at the same venue. 

ACMT offers new comprehensive toxicological training for providers who see poisoned patients. ACMT’s Total Tox Course will be held at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront on Wednesday,  September 5—Friday, September 7, 2018. 

ACMT’s 2018 Satellite Session, ‘Toxic Threats, Chemical Security and Counterfeit  Pharmaceuticals’ will be held on Thursday, April 5, at the Washington Marriott Georgetown in  Washington DC. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)  announced in late-December that they have approved six quality measures that were developed by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT). These are the first-ever medical toxicology quality measures approved by CMS.

A position statement regarding fentanyl exposure in first responders, published by the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and American Academy of  Clinical Toxicology (AACT) in July 2017, continues to pave the way in clarifying risks of dermal and inhalation fentanyl exposure. 

Join the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) and the Fredric  Rieders Family Foundation at the 2017 Seminar in Forensic Toxicology ‘Opioids, Toxicology,  and the Law: Medical-Legal Aspects of the Opioid Epidemic’ on Monday, December 11 and  Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia, PA. 

This unique conference will benefit health care professionals, scientists, social workers, attorneys, and law enforcement.

Fentanyl exposure safety precautions based on the experience of physicians who specialize in medical toxicology.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), which are sold under hundreds of brand names including “spice” or “K2”, have become common drugs of abuse in the US. These man-made drugs are associated with severe central nervous system and cardiovascular effects.

A new, free, web resource is available for clinicians and families that will aid in the protection of children from exposures to health hazards in the environment. Access the peer-reviewed PEHT during well child visits to educate parents on everyday hazards related to air, water, food and products.

The American College of Medical Toxicology will hold its Annual Scientific Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 31 – April 2, 2017. The conference will feature current research in the field of medical toxicology and will be accompanied by special satellite sessions on the opioid and Zika epidemics.

The American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT) has received approval from The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for a unique specialty code for medical toxicology.