Explaining Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is also known as an alcohol overdose. It occurs when you drink more alcohol than your body can process. It results in several bodily functions shutting down, including breathing, temperature control, and heart rate. Anyone who drinks alcohol even once has the potential to experience alcohol poisoning. With that said a single drink would rarely lead to an overdose. Several factors can increase the chances of this happening. These include a person’s sensitivity to alcohol, their gender, age, weight, how quickly they are drinking, if they are taking any medications or substances, and if they are drinking on an empty stomach. Binge drinking is one of the most common reasons someone will experience an overdose. This is defined as someone drinking enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to above 0.08%. On average, this involves drinking 4 or more alcoholic beverages for a woman or 5 or more for a man. It is important to note that the amount of alcohol in each drink is also crucial to whether someone experiences alcohol poisoning or not. The drinks listed above are based on standard drink sizes, which equals 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol. What that looks like varies depending on the type of drink someone has. For example, a standard drink for a regular beer is 12 fl oz, while a distilled spirit like whiskey or gin is 1.5 fl oz.What Causes Alcohol Poisoning to Happen?
As mentioned, alcohol poisoning is defined as when your BAC is above 0.08%, but what does that mean? When you drink alcohol, your body will absorb it into your bloodstream. From there, your liver will break down the alcohol and remove it from the body. The liver can only break down approximately 1 drink every hour, which leads to a backup of alcohol in your bloodstream. This raises your BAC and begins to slow down your body’s functions. The higher the BAC, the more severe consequences happen. Below is a chart showing how different BAC levels can impact you. The symptoms in earlier impairments can be used as warning signs for alcohol poisoning. When you are experiencing mild or any other impairment severity, it indicates your BAC is rising. BAC continues to rise for up to 2 hours after your last drink. Having any of those early signs is an indication that you should stop drinking alcohol immediately, as further drinking could be life-threatening.| BAC Percentage | Severity of Impairment | Symptoms Associated With Level |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0-.05% | Mild Impairment | Mild speech, attention, coordination, and balance impairments, sleepiness |
| 0.06-0.15% | Increased Impairment | Moderate memory impairment, risk of injury to self or others, risk of aggression, feelings of relaxation, driving skills are impaired |
| 0.16-0.30% | Severe Impairment | Driving, judgment, and decision-making skills are dangerously impaired, gaps in memory (blackouts), vomiting, significant impairment to speech, attention, coordination, and reaction time |
| 0.31-0.45% | Life-Threatening | Alcohol poisoning, significant risk of death, loss of consciousness |
Alcohol Poisoning: Signs and Symptoms
So, how do you know if someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning instead of regular intoxication? Alcohol poisoning comes with many clear signs and symptoms that help others realize they need medical attention. If you recognize someone experiencing these symptoms, do not hesitate to call 911 for help. It will save their life.
Possible symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
- Being unable to remain conscious
- Vomiting
- Trouble breathing, including slow (less than 8 breaths per minute) and irregular breathing (more than 10 seconds between breaths)
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Slow heart rate
- No gag reflex
- Choking
- Clammy skin
- Low body temperature
- Blue or pale skin
Long-Term Health Risks of an Alcohol Overdose
Several possible long-term complications may come from an alcohol overdose, even if it is your first time experiencing one. Keep in mind that these complications are not guaranteed if you have an alcohol overdose. Quick medical care and eliminating alcohol use may prevent significant long-term damage from developing.
One of those potential risks is damage to the heart. Alcohol is a depressant, and it slows down your heart during an overdose, putting you at risk of a stroke, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.
It also impacts the way the brain functions, with people reporting having a difficult time thinking clearly or moving with coordination after experiencing an alcohol overdose.
Because your liver is responsible for removing alcohol from your body, heavy drinking overworks the organ, which sometimes results in damage and inflammation. If you regularly binge drink, it may eventually develop into conditions like fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or fibrosis.
Drinking a lot on a single occasion sometimes compromises your immune system. An alcohol overdose results in many of your body’s systems slowing down, and your immune system is no different. Your body may not be able to fight off infections, or you may become more susceptible to severe diseases for some time after an overdose.
Alcohol Poisoning Emergency Action: What to Do in the Event One Happens
If someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, it is a medical emergency. The person will not sleep it off, so don’t hesitate to act. Below are 4 tips to keep in mind in the event one happens.
- Remain calm and call 911 immediately. The person does not need to have all of the symptoms of an overdose present. The sooner you call, the faster their life can be saved.
- Do not have them take cold showers, drink hot beverages, or try walking off their symptoms. These do not reverse the effects and might worsen symptoms.
- Stay with the person as you wait. Someone who is experiencing alcohol poisoning has a high risk of choking or getting injured. Keep them sitting and awake on the floor to prevent this from occurring. If you cannot keep them awake, lay them on their side to prevent them from choking on vomit.
- Be prepared to answer any of the paramedics’ questions. Common questions they might ask include the type of alcohol the person consumed, how much alcohol the person consumed, whether additional substances were taken, and any health conditions the person has. Answering these questions honestly and to the best of your abilities ensures they receive the best care possible.
Can You Treat Alcohol Poisoning Without Getting Medical Help?
Alcohol poisoning cannot be treated at home, nor is it something someone will sleep off. As mentioned, it is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. This lifesaving treatment includes IV fluids to treat dehydration and increase blood sugar levels. Not drinking water or drinking alcohol on an empty stomach raises the chances of an overdose because it increases the impact alcohol has on your body.
Medical professionals also use stomach pumping and blood filtration to help the body remove the toxins of alcohol from its system. Eliminating these toxins from the body increases the person’s chances of surviving.
The Best Way to Prevent an Alcohol Overdose
Ultimately, the best way to prevent an alcohol overdose is not to drink alcohol or to drink in moderation, which is no more than 1 an hour. For those with an alcohol use disorder, this seems like an impossible request. A common symptom of an alcohol use disorder is being unable to stop drinking once they have started.
Alcoholism treatment helps many people find the strength to recover and free themselves from the need to binge drink. This lifesaving treatment provides tools that help those with this condition keep themselves safe when the cravings for alcohol call their name. With time and practice, these skills reduce the chances of an overdose occurring.
Getting Help for Your Alcohol Use Disorder Today in Tampa, FL
Those with an alcohol use disorder have a higher risk of experiencing an alcohol overdose because they have a higher risk of participating in binge drinking activities. For those who have had this condition for several years, it is challenging to understand what life will look like once treatment has ended. Perhaps you are afraid you will be left to your own devices to pick up the pieces of your life.
We have case management systems that make that process more accessible. We help you bridge the gap between treatment and sober living by assisting you in obtaining driver’s licenses or IDs, signing up for food stamps, connecting you to free education in Florida, and connecting you with transitional housing. All of these elements reduce your desire to return to alcohol.
Real Recovery Solutions provides alcohol use disorder treatment in the Tampa, FL, area. We have the most extensive sober living facilities in the state of Florida, which enables you to safely transition from intensive alcohol use disorder treatment back to your everyday life. This reduces the chances of alcohol poisoning. To learn more or start your recovery today, contact us at 813-373-6762.
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