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Poisoning
Poisons are substances that cause damage to the cells of the body when they come into contact with them. There are lots of different poisonous substances and they can be swallowed, inhaled (breathed in), splashed onto the skin or eyes, or injected (including snake bites). Most cases of poisoning are accidental and involve children or elderly people. Substances that we may not think of as poisons, such as alcohol and tobacco, can also be very harmful.
Occasionally poisoning may be deliberate, for example, when a person attempts to poison themselves, such as by taking an overdose of prescription drugs, or uses a poisonous substance to harm someone else.









