Objective: ANSES requested the Toxicovigilance Coordination Committee to describe human exposure to AC using cases collected by the CAPTV network in mainland France and in the overseas departments and communities (DCOM), with the aim of assessing the number, geographic distribution, severity, and circumstances of exposure. Methods: A retrospective study analyzing cases of non-zero attributable exposure to AC-based preparations, collected by French CAPTVs in the National Poisoning Case Database (BNCI) from July 1999 to December 31, 2012. Results: Between July 1999 and December 2012 inclusive, the CAPTVs collected 1,071 cases of AC exposure. The annual number of exposures was relatively stable (63 to 108 cases per year). Exposures were symptomatic in half of the cases (n = 537) and severe in one-third of them (n = 348, representing 65% of poisonings). Twenty-one deaths were observed, 7 of which occurred before hospital admission. The majority of exposed individuals were adults (61%). Accidental exposures (n = 513, or 48% of the total) were symptomatic in 87 cases (17%) and severe in 12 cases (2.1%). No accidental deaths were observed. Exposures were intentional in more than 52% (n = 539) of cases (versus 15% for all agents combined in the BNCI). These intentional exposures were symptomatic in 81% of cases, severe in nearly 61%, and 19 deaths were recorded. For 2 other deaths, the circumstances were undetermined. Among adult exposure cases, 80% were suicide attempts, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.17 (versus 0.49 for all agents combined (p < 0.03). Single-agent suicide poisonings (360 cases) were often severe (222 cases). Among these, 156 patients were comatose, intubated, and ventilated, with, in most cases, hypertonia, myoclonus, seizures, or associated status epilepticus. In 21 cases, patients were comatose but not intubated and presented with another criterion of severity (convulsions, status epilepticus, generalized hypertonia, shock, cyanosis, rhabdomyolysis). In 41 cases, patients were not comatose but presented with another serious sign (seizures, status epilepticus, respiratory distress, pneumonia). Four patients had died prior to treatment. Respiratory complications (congestion, hypersecretion, respiratory distress, pneumonia, etc.) were reported in only 58 of these 222 patients. Among patients for whom the presumed ingested dose (PID) was low (≤ 3 g), 41% exhibited signs of severity. Two cases of chronic intentional exposure resulting in multiple episodes of seizures are worth noting. A focus on DCOMs showed an incidence of 50.6 cases/107 [45.2–56.8] versus 12.5 cases/107 [11.8–13.3] person-years in mainland France, representing an odds ratio of 4.1 [3.4–4.8]. These exposures were slightly less frequently symptomatic, but the proportion of severe cases (32%) remained similar to that of the overall study (33%). Accidental exposures were as numerous as intentional ones (72/72). The use of a carrier food (bread, lard, etc.) was involved in nearly 40% of accidental exposures (28/72). In 5 of these 72 cases (7%), the preparation was homemade. Conclusions: The profile of AC poisonings, which are predominantly intentional, differs from that of poisonings involving all agents combined. These cases are frequently severe, even when the LD₅₀ is low, which is consistent with the high toxicity of this substance. Accidental poisonings, while less often severe, are nevertheless severe in more than 2% of cases. Modifying the packaging of commercial preparations to make AC inaccessible and banning the sale of AC in bulk to the general public would help limit the number of cases and their severity.