When alcohol poisoning occurs by way of excessive drinking or mixing drinking with other drugs, it depresses the central nervous system’s basic life support functions, causing high blood pressure, affecting breathing, heart rate, and gag reflex, potentially leading to choking, coma, or even death. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning can include confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, hypothermia, and unconsciousness.
If alcohol poisoning is suspected, immediate medical attention is needed to prevent potentially fatal outcomes. Timely intervention can involve supportive care such as maintaining breathing and circulation, intravenous fluids, and careful monitoring to prevent complications. Recognizing the signs and acting quickly can save lives and mitigate the severe consequences associated with alcohol poisoning.
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
When you drink too much alcohol too quickly, the body will not be able to metabolize it. This results in alcohol building up in your system, which leads to the dangerous and potentially life-threatening symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
How much alcohol causes alcohol poisoning? The exact amount varies based on factors like weight, alcohol tolerance, and overall health, but generally, alcohol intake of around 0.3 to 0.4 grams of alcohol per kilogram of body weight can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning can happen to anyone who drinks alcohol, especially people who are binge drinking. The best way to avoid alcohol poisoning is to not drink alcohol. If you do drink, make sure you are aware of the key signs of alcohol poisoning.
Here are 6 Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
1. Pale Skin
Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to a drop in blood pressure and reduced blood flow to the skin. Pale skin can be common with alcohol poisoning. The skin can also become very cold and even blue.
2. Clammy Skin
A person who is experiencing alcohol poisoning might develop wet, sweaty, cold skin, commonly due to dehydration or hypoglycemia from excessive drinking.
3. Slowed Breathing
You can experience slow breathing due to the nervous system and brain functioning in an altered state. This can cause severe complications. Healthcare providers often use the criterion of fewer than eight breaths per minute as a potential indicator of alcohol poisoning.
If it is a case of alcohol poisoning, the respiratory system can become significantly depressed, leading to dangerously low breathing rates. This low respiratory rate can indicate that the body’s central nervous system, particularly the brainstem, is being heavily suppressed by alcohol, which can result in respiratory failure – the most common cause of alcohol poisoning deaths.
4. Mental Confusion
Overconsumption of alcohol can lead to impaired brain function. The individual might become very confused and disoriented and not understand where they are or what they are doing. They might also have difficulty walking or functioning. Alcohol disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, which can impair cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and reasoning, leading to confusion.
5. Becoming Unconscious
Similar to all symptoms of alcohol poisoning, losing consciousness is a very serious sign that the individual needs immediate medical attention. If a person has difficulty remaining conscious, it could indicate a severe level of alcohol intoxication, potentially increasing the risk of harm, including alcohol poisoning.
6. Vomiting
Vomiting can occur and increase the risk of choking. Too much alcohol can lead to the repression of the gag reflex, which normally would prevent choking. If this is the case, the person should be placed on their side to reduce the risk of choking on their own vomit if they pass out.
The symptoms of alcohol poisoning can include all of the above or just some of the above-mentioned signs.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) & Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol poisoning occurs when a person drinks too much alcohol at a rate that the body isn’t able to keep up with (and therefore metabolize). When the BAC in a person’s body increases, even in very small amounts, the symptoms of overdose can begin.
If you do drink, consider only having one drink to reduce your chances of overdose and prevent alcohol poisoning. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) lists a standard drink being one 5 fl oz of wine, one 12 fl oz of regular beer, 8 to 9 fl oz of malt liquor, or a 1.5 fl oz shot of distilled spirits.
Another way to reduce your chances of overdose is to have a balanced meal before or during your night out. Food in the stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, whereas drinking on an empty stomach can cause increased intoxication.
Is Alcohol Poisoning an Emergency?
Yes, alcohol poisoning symptoms are a serious medical emergency. When a suspected overdose occurs, you need to seek medical attention immediately to confirm the alcohol poisoning diagnosis. Even if you aren’t sure if the individual does have alcohol poisoning, you should always call 911 for help to be safe.
Never leave the individual alone if you suspect they are overdosing. Instead, you should stay with them until medical help arrives and look out for other signs of alcohol poisoning. As mentioned above, if the person begins vomiting, they need to be turned on their side to prevent choking.
Risk Factors for Alcohol Overdose
Some people are at higher risk of alcohol poisoning than others. These factors include:
Binge Drinking
People who partake in binge drinking are at a higher risk of alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking is consuming more than five alcoholic drinks within one hour. This brings blood alcohol concentration higher than what the body can filter out. When a person’s blood alcohol levels reach .08g/dl, the risk factors for alcohol poisoning increase significantly.
Body Size
Body weight or size can play a significant role in the rate at which our body metabolizes alcohol. People with a greater height and weight might be able to metabolize alcohol at a faster rate than a smaller person.
Age
Young adults have a tendency to drink alcohol in higher amounts than older people, possibly due to peer pressure, prevalence, and cultural norms. Young adults engage in binge drinking more than any other age group, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This is supported by the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which states that nearly a third of young adults aged 18-25 reported binge drinking within the last month.
Gender
On average, alcohol consumption by men tends to be higher than women, putting them at a greater risk factor for alcohol poisoning.
Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
If you have experienced alcohol poisoning even once or are someone who binge drinks, you might have an alcohol addiction and need professional rehab treatment to get sober for the long term. Alcohol detox and an inpatient rehab program with Sunshine Rehab can provide you with the following:
- A comprehensive treatment program, including detox, therapeutic services, and aftercare services
- 24-hour monitoring and assistance as your body goes through withdrawal symptoms. Our goal is to make the detox process as safe and comfortable as possible for you.
- Medication-assisted treatment when needed to help reduce the detox withdrawal symptoms. Our team utilizes FDA-approved medications, such as naltrexone and disulfiram, in conjunction with therapy to provide a comprehensive approach to treatment.
- Evidence-backed therapies to address the underlying causes of your addiction. Our experienced therapists will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs and goals.
- Holistic services such as yoga, meditation, and art therapy. These activities can help individuals reduce stress, promote relaxation, and cope with difficult emotions in a healthy way.
- And much more
Get Addiction Treatment for Alcohol Abuse Today
Our team at Sunshine Detox and Rehab Center is here to help you get your life back from alcohol use disorder and substance abuse. Our detox and inpatient rehab program offers effective evidence-based therapies for patients with a unique and individualized approach to care.
Contact us today to begin your treatment process.
