What are the Signs of an Alcohol Overdose?

Alcohol poisoning hospital
Photo by JazzIRT/iStockPhoto.com
 

One of the most-talked-about public health issues of the 21st century is drug addiction. Drug addiction statistics and overdose deaths soared through the first two decades of the 21st century, eventually earning the title of a National Public Health Emergency in 2017.

Meanwhile, alcohol misuse also surged, with alcohol-related deaths climbing higher and higher each year. This epidemic, however, has not been as frequently discussed or reported on. For example, tens of thousands of Americans die from alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related illnesses and injuries each year, yet this gets little mention in the media.

Alcohol poisoning is a serious health concern. Americans should know what it is, how often it occurs, what to look for when trying to spot it, and how to respond to it.

Alcohol Overdose and Alcohol Poisoning - Defined

Alcohol poisoning is a serious consequence of drinking too much alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much alcohol too quickly can severely impact breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and gag reflex. Alcohol poisoning can lead to unconsciousness, coma, even death.

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. When someone experiences this phenomenon, it is essential to get them medical help as soon as possible. They may experience serious harm, possibly even death, if they don’t receive medical attention quickly.

How Easy is it to Overdose on Alcohol?

Woman at the hospital after alcohol poisoning

The Mayo Clinic warns that alcohol poisoning can occur much more easily than many people might think. An episode of binge drinking (something that 25% of American adults do every month) can lead to alcohol poisoning. Quoting the Mayo Clinic, “A major cause of alcohol poisoning is binge drinking—a pattern of heavy drinking when a male rapidly consumes five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours, or a female rapidly consumes at least four drinks within two hours. An alcohol binge can occur over hours or last up to several days.”

The more alcohol a person consumes (especially when consumed in a short period), the more they are at risk for an overdose. Several factors can increase one’s risk of alcohol poisoning, including the individual’s size and weight, health, whether they’ve eaten recently, the percentage of alcohol in their drinks, the rate and amount of alcohol consumed, and their tolerance level.

While the exact point where binge drinking tips over into alcohol poisoning will be different for everyone, people should understand that alcohol poisoning can occur during an episode of binge drinking. (Keep in mind that binge drinking occurs when a man drinks just five (or more) alcoholic beverages in one period, or when a woman drinks just four (or more) alcoholic drinks in one period).

Alcohol Overdose Deaths – A Look at the Numbers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put forth some information on alcohol poisoning fatalities. According to their data, about six people die from alcohol poisoning in the United States every day, totaling in well over 2,000 deaths each year.

But that number does not fully encompass the danger and harm caused by alcohol poisoning. Even if an individual does not die from alcohol poisoning, such poisoning causes serious damage to the body, potentially even permanent damage.

Most people who die from alcohol-related causes die from a gradual buildup of harm and physiological damage caused by ongoing alcohol abuse. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 95,000 people die every year from alcohol-related causes. Even if an alcohol overdose does not end in a fatality, it can cause serious damage, potentially contributing to an alcohol-related fatality later on in life. That’s why it is important to address alcohol poisoning when it occurs and then ensure the individual gets professional help for their alcohol misuse or their addiction.

Signs, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

Alcohol poisoning

Some signs that an individual who has been drinking is going through alcohol poisoning include:

  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting
  • Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
  • Irregular breathing (look for a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
  • Blue-tinged or pale skin
  • Low body temperature (borderline-hypothermic or hypothermic body temperature)
  • Loss of consciousness to the point where the individual cannot be woken up

An individual does not have to be experiencing all of the above symptoms to be going through an incidence of alcohol poisoning. And a person who becomes unconscious after drinking and cannot be awakened is at risk of dying. If you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning, seek immediate medical care for them.

Do the following:

  • Call 911 or your local emergency hotline immediately. Don’t assume the individual will “sleep it off.” If they are unconscious and cannot be roused or if they are having seizures, breathing issues, or they feel hypothermic or are vomiting uncontrollably, seek emergency medical attention for them.
  • Provide as much information as possible to emergency personnel, including what type of alcohol the individual was drinking, how much they drank, and how quickly they drank it.
  • Don’t abandon the individual. If you have to walk away from the individual to get medical help for them, make sure someone else can watch over them. If the individual is unconscious, they are at risk. Alcohol poisoning adversely affects how the gag reflex works, which means the individual may choke on his or her vomit and not be able to breathe. When people die from alcohol poisoning, this is often the cause.
  • Help the individual if they vomit. Try to keep him or her sitting up and conscious. Don’t let them vomit while lying down on their back, as this could lead to choking.
  • Do not attempt to induce vomiting. If the person vomits, assist them and make sure they do not choke. But don’t try to make them vomit.

Getting Help for an Alcohol Addiction

If you know someone who cannot control how much alcohol they consume or how often they consume it, you should do everything you can to get them professional help. Alcohol addiction is not something one can overcome on their own. And it is not something that will go away on its own without actively addressing it through treatment.

If you have a family member, loved one, colleague, or friend who drinks too much too often, please get them help at a drug and alcohol treatment center as soon as possible.


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Reviewed by Matt Hawk, BS, CADC-II, ICADC


AUTHOR

Ren

After working in addiction treatment for several years, Ren now travels the country, studying drug trends and writing about addiction in our society. Ren is focused on using his skill as an author and counselor to promote recovery and effective solutions to the drug crisis. Connect with Ren on LinkedIn.

NARCONON ARROWHEAD

DRUG EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION