Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms, Signs, and Treatment

In the United States, consuming alcohol is both a lawful activity and a deeply ingrained social tradition. However, it can rapidly escalate into a dangerous situation.

It is common for a night of indulgence in heavy or binge drinking to overwhelm you and leave you feeling hung over. But when does this situation become a life-threatening danger? Surprisingly, it happens more frequently than many realize.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that alcohol poisoning kills about six people every day.

Understanding the risks of alcohol poisoning and being able to identify its symptoms can be lifesaving. It can also help prevent severe outcomes such as brain damage or even death from alcohol use disorder.

Knowing the signs of alcohol poisoning is important to keep people safe if they’ve had too much to drink. By knowing what to look for, you can take immediate action and potentially save someone’s life.

What Is Alcohol Poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning happens when the body has an excessive amount of alcohol. This can overload the brain and organs, leading to them shutting down.

Alcohol poisoning can happen fast, either during the act of heavy drinking or after stopping consumption. It affects people across the spectrum, from those taking their first sip to seasoned drinkers.

Alcohol poisoning poses a severe risk to life and necessitates prompt medical intervention. If you believe someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, it’s crucial to call 911 immediately without hesitation.

Binge Drinking

According to The NIAAA or National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking for women is consuming four or more drinks in a span of two hours. Men are deemed to be binge drinking if they ingest five plus alcoholic drinks over a shorter timeframe.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming double or more the quantity of alcoholic beverages that qualifies as binge drinking.

Most documented instances of alcohol poisoning have been linked to situations where people engaged in binge drinking, high-intensity drinking, or consumed large amounts of alcohol within a brief timeframe.

How Long Does Alcohol Poisoning Last?

The duration of alcohol poisoning hinges on its severity and the promptness with which medical care is sought. Unlike a hangover, which gradually subsides over time, alcohol poisoning constitutes a medical crisis necessitating immediate intervention.

Even when emergency assistance is provided, alcohol poisoning may result in brain damage or prove fatal.

What Are the Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning?

Distinguishing between being extremely intoxicated and exhibiting symptoms of alcohol poisoning can be challenging, as they frequently occur together.

Do not presume safety simply because you have ceased drinking. Alcohol poisoning can occur both during the act of drinking and in the hours immediately following cessation.

When you’re drinking alcohol, it results in the expansion of your blood vessels, subsequently leading to headaches and muscle discomfort. When your liver breaks down alcohol, it slows down the creation of glucose, resulting in lower blood sugar levels.

A drop in blood sugar can trigger signs like feeling lightheaded, shaking, sweating, and intense hunger. Feeling nauseous and experiencing diarrhea are frequent occurrences, mainly when you drink on an empty stomach. This is because the body generates extra acid to metabolize the alcohol, resulting in unease across the digestive system.

Indicators and symptoms of alcohol poisoning may encompass:

• Forgetting the quantity of alcohol consumed
• Disorientation
• Persistent loss of concentration or focus
• Vertigo
• Tendency to collapse or slump
• Dozing off unexpectedly
• Nausea and throwing up
• Challenges in articulation

Regrettably, it’s not always possible to depend on those nearby to recognize the warning signals of alcohol poisoning or to seek assistance.

If you suspect you may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, seek help immediately. Opting for safety over regret is crucial, so never hesitate to ask someone for support.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Even if a person claims to be fine or is unable to communicate verbally, there are physical signs of alcohol poisoning you can look for.

Do not presume that someone unconscious will simply “sleep off” their condition or recover in a few hours; it is crucial to monitor for signs of severe alcohol intoxication continuously.

Physical indications of alcohol poisoning include:

• Person is unconscious
• Uncontrollable, intense regurgitation
• No reaction to loud sounds or physical touch
• Reduced body temperature
• Skin that feels cold or damp
• A pallid or bluish tint to the skin, lips, or fingernails
• Breathing that is slow or erratic
• An inconsistent heartbeat
• Incontinence
• Convulsions

Should a person exhibit any of these symptoms, dial 911. As you await the arrival of assistance, position the person on their side called the recovery position to avoid the risk of choking.

Someone needs to remain with the person to monitor their breathing and vital signs.

Ready yourself to share details regarding the quantity of alcohol consumption by the person, the presence of any other substances or medications in their system, and any known health conditions they may have.

What BAC is Alcohol Poisoning?

BAC stands for blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol content. Legally, a BAC to 0.08% or higher is drunk. Medically, having a BAC of .25% or more is alcohol poisoning, even if only a few symptoms are present.

When alcohol is broken down, it enters the bloodstream, distributing the feeling of drunkenness all over the body.

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) denotes the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream; an increase in this level escalates the risk to your safety.

BAC can keep increasing even after someone has finished drinking; therefore, it’s important to monitor people who have been drinking, even if they’ve ceased consumption.

Alcohol impacts each person uniquely; those who drink frequently or have an alcohol use disorder often build up a tolerance, enabling them to appear functional at higher alcohol levels than what would be manageable for many others.

How to Help an Alcoholic

For some people, having a drink now and then is not a significant issue. But for those struggling with alcohol use disorder, even one drink can trigger a relapse. While conquering drug and alcohol addiction ranks among the most challenging endeavors, achieving sobriety is indeed possible.

At White Oak Recovery Center, we know that addressing the physical aspects of addiction is only the beginning.

We offer on-site medical detox to help with alcohol withdrawal. Our goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your care.

Our upscale treatment center is in the scenic California mountains. This environment helps you embrace a lifestyle free from alcohol and substance abuse.

We apply treatments and therapies grounded in scientific evidence to tackle the psychological and behavioral dimensions of addiction. This method helps you learn and become stronger to keep recovering in a world where alcohol is common. You can continue your recovery even after you no longer receive our support.

Contact us today. Our caring and devoted treatment specialists are eager to help you embark on your journey toward a significant and enduring recovery.