According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol poisoning is a major contributor to approximately 2,200 deaths annually in the U.S. Alcohol poisoning can impair necessary reflexes in your body, particularly the gag reflex—which helps prevent choking on food, liquids, and saliva. An improperly functioning gag reflex significantly increases the risk of choking. At this stage, brain activity can slow down so much that your memory and ability to stay awake are severely impaired. You may experience a complete loss of memory, confusion, difficulty staying awake, or the inability to wake up.
Looking For Addiction Help?
At the hospital, the medical team can refer you to an addiction treatment program once you’ve been stabilized. Even when taking preventative measures, alcohol poisoning can still happen to anybody. Anybody who suffers from alcohol poisoning is highly suggested to look into some alcohol addiction treatment options. Ethyl alcohol poisoning what is Oxford House will generally result from consuming too many alcoholic drinks, especially if consumed in a short period.
What To Do When Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning?
- Higher liquor concentration doesn’t necessarily cause poisoning more quickly, as your body actually absorbs alcohol most efficiently at 10-30% concentrations.
- However, excessive drinking can lead to the accumulation of acetaldehyde and fatty deposits in the liver, resulting in inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis.
- These symptoms reflect severe physiological compromise and distinguish alcohol poisoning from routine intoxication.
- Signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, hypothermia, and unconsciousness.
- These factors increase blood alcohol concentration (BAC) beyond safe limits, overwhelming the liver’s ability to metabolize ethanol and leading to toxic accumulation in the bloodstream.
This excessive intake overwhelms the body’s ability to metabolize ethanol, leading to a rapid increase in blood alcohol concentration (BAC). As BAC rises, it impairs central nervous system functions, resulting in critical symptoms such as confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, hypothermia, unconsciousness, and potentially death. Alcohol poisoning happens when you drink excessive amounts of alcohol during a short period of time. Parts of the brain that control functions like temperature, breathing, and heart rate begin to shut down. Specific symptoms point to alcohol poisoning when you observe breathing slower than 8 breaths per minute, unconsciousness, heart rate below 60 beats per minute, or skin that’s cold and bluish.
What Is a Drug or Alcohol Overdose?
Alcohol poisoning happens when there’s so much alcohol in your bloodstream that it starts shutting down life-supporting areas of your brain. This means its effects may wear off in 30–90 minutes, and the person could slip back into overdose if the opioids are still active in their system. That’s why it’s important to keep monitoring the person for further signs of overdose and be ready to administer emergency care even after naloxone is given. In the case of opioid overdoses, for example, breathing can slow or stop entirely, making rapid intervention critical. Other substances—like stimulants, sedatives, or alcohol—present different dangers, but all overdoses require immediate medical attention. In intensive care settings, monitoring includes tracking heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature.
First Aid and Emergency Response
The eyelids are usually lowered also, which makes the most obvious form of identifying intoxication without identifying the rest of the altered coordination. The Recovery Village Palmer Lake specializes in compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. alcohol overdose These programs can be inpatient or outpatient, depending on the individual’s needs and the severity of the addiction.
If you or a loved one believe you are experiencing an overdose, seek immediate medical attention by calling 9-1-1. If you’re looking for treatment, please browse the site to reach out to treatment centers directly. Most states have Good Samaritan laws that protect individuals seeking help in an overdose situation. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, leading to increased urination and subsequent dehydration, which causes thirst, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
What To Do If You Recognize Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
The importance of being able to recognize a drug overdose can’t be overstated. Implementing these strategies can significantly reduce the risk of alcohol poisoning. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, it is crucial to call for emergency medical help immediately. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Nisa Samar has a Psychology degree and brings expertise to ChoicePoint’s blogs, with over 7 years of contributing valuable insights on substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.
