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Table Of Contents:
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol intoxication, is a very serious and sometimes deadly complication of consuming large amounts of alcohol over a short period.
Drinking too much too quickly can elevate your alcohol blood level to the point that it can shut down certain key life-supporting areas in your brain. This may have profound effects on your heart rate, body temperature, and your gag reflex. Moreover, involuntary functions, such as breathing, may also shut down, which may result in coma and death.
Men are more affected than women, and the usual age group is between 35 and 64 years. About 178,000 alcohol-related deaths per year occur in the United States. Of these, alcohol poisoning is responsible for 61,000 lives. Approximately one-third of these alcohol poisoning-induced deaths occur in people with signs of alcohol dependence.
Alcohol poisoning is more common among people who excessively drink alcoholic beverages. Therefore, binge drinking, which is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks for males or four or more alcoholic drinks for females in a short time, can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning. Furthermore, it can also occur when adults or children drink alcohol-containing household products, either intentionally or accidentally.
Blood Alcohol Level for Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning occurs when there is a huge elevation in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. However, there is no specific BAC level that defines alcohol poisoning. The BAC level at which alcohol poisoning occurs tends to vary from one person to another. Factors such as tolerance, metabolism, weight, and overall health status, may influence the BAC level at which an individual may experience alcohol poisoning. Despite this, some general BAC level cutoffs may give you an idea of the stages of alcohol poisoning and when it is likely to occur:
- BAC 0.15% to 0.30%: You may experience a significant impairment of motor and judgment skills. You may experience slurred speech, incoordination of your body, and loss of balance. This stage could be considered mild alcohol poisoning. However, this is far more than the legal BAC level (0.08%); thus, driving with these levels can get you arrested.
- BAC 0.30% to 0.40%: You will likely have alcohol poisoning at this point. Severe impairment of cognitive and motor function is expected. Loss of consciousness is likely to occur alongside dangerously slow breathing and heart rate. This stage has a high risk of choking from vomiting and, ultimately, asphyxiation. To reach a BAC level of more than 0.30% a 160-pound man would have to drink more than 11 drinks in 1 hour, and a 120-pound woman about 7 drinks in 1 hour.
- BAC over 0.40%: This level of intoxication is potentially fatal. The central nervous system is so depressed that it experiences a shutdown that may result in a coma and death from respiratory depression and a slow heartbeat.
Do you want to know your alcohol levels while drinking out? Try our Blood Alcohol Content (BAC Calculator).
How Long Does Alcohol Intoxication Last?
Just as the BAC level at which alcohol poisoning is evident, the duration of alcohol poisoning depends on factors like the individualโs weight, alcohol tolerance, metabolism, and health status. Moreover, some other factors like the amount of alcohol consumed, the interaction with other substances, and receiving medical treatment may also play a significant role.
The duration of alcohol poisoning can last from several hours to several days; with the most critical period usually being within the first hours after consumption. This is mainly because the BAC level is at its peak.
Recognizing Alcohol Poisoning
Recognizing alcohol poisoning, either on yourself or others, may be crucial to avoiding any life-threatening complications and getting access to medical treatment in a timely fashion.
Alcohol poisoning symptoms
The typical signs and symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning include:
- Mental confusion and stupor (Disorientation, somnolence, and difficulty speaking may also be present).
- Difficulty in maintaining consciousness (inability to wake up).
- Nausea and vomiting (may also carry a risk of choking and asphyxiation).
- Slow breathing (breathing rate can drop to less than eight breaths per minute).
- Irregular breathing (with more than 10 seconds between each breath, or even stopping altogether, leading to a life-threatening respiratory failure).
- Slow heart rate
- Cold, bluish, and clammy skin
- Hypothermia (low body temperature, especially in cold environments)
- Incontinence (loss of bladder and bowel control).
- Strong alcohol breath
- Seizures (which require immediate medical care).
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning the Day After
People who experienced heavy alcohol consumption that resulted in alcohol consumption may still have several symptoms the day after. Although these symptoms are generally milder, they can be troublesome. Some of the most common symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Nausea and mild vomiting
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Mood disturbances
- Cognitive impairment
Risk Factors for Alcohol Poisoning
Several risk factors may influence the likelihood of someone experiencing alcohol poisoning. Some of them include:
- Binge drinking (rate of alcohol consumption)
- Alcohol tolerance
- Consuming alcohol while having an empty stomach
- Female gender
- Genetic mutations that affect alcohol processing
- Prior episodes of alcohol-induced blackouts
- Fatigue and stress
- Concomitant drug use
Differences Between Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms and Being Drunk
Some people may confuse alcohol poisoning as just another time being drunk or hungover. However, it is important to highlight that alcohol poisoning may result in life-threatening complications and should not be taken lightly.
Although the typical signs and symptoms of being drunk, like impaired coordination, slurred speech, and delayed reaction time, may also be present in people with alcohol poisoning, they tend to be much milder. Furthermore, being drunk may also be associated with increased confidence and a state of euphoria, which contrasts with the unconsciousness and unresponsiveness of alcohol poisoning.
Finally, you should be aware that being drunk would generally not lead to severe problems in your body functions like breathing, temperature, or heart rate.
Managing Alcohol Poisoning
Once signs of alcohol poisoning have been identified, it is crucial to adequately manage the situation and ensure that the individual gets access to life-saving medical interventions. As it is a medical emergency, the first step when alcohol poisoning is suspected is to call 911 immediately.
Home Treatment for Alcohol Poisoning
After calling 911 to seek professional help, individuals with alcohol poisoning may still need to wait until the emergency services arrive. Here are some recommendations of what you can do to help:
- Stay with the person
- Keep them in a safe position (turn the head to one side to prevent choking)
- Try to prevent loss of consciousness
- Keep the person warm
- Give them some water if they can swallow
- Avoid inducing vomiting
- Avoid giving them food or drinks, especially if they have trouble swallowing
- Avoid giving them medications
- Check their heart rate and breathing
- Perform CPR if proficient
Professional Medical Treatment of Alcohol Poisoning
Once the person arrives at a medical facility, healthcare professionals can monitor his status and provide adequate management. The following interventions may be for acute alcohol poisoning treatment during hospitalization:
- Intravenous fluid administration: Rehydration is a key part of the treatment of alcohol poisoning. Repleting fluids directly to your bloodstream makes it more efficient.
- Vitamins and glucose administration: Some people may have decreased glucose and vitamins (especially vitamin B1).
- Intubation: A tube is inserted into your windpipe to help you breathe and protect your airway while unconscious.
- Bladder catheterization: In cases of urine retention or to quantify urine volume, a thin catheter (tube) is inserted into the bladder.
- Stomach lavage: Stomach contents are cleaned up by passing fluids through a tube fitted to the nose or mouth.
- Dialysis: In severe cases, damage to the kidneys may occur and dialysis may be needed to prevent toxins from building up.
- Continued monitoring: Close monitoring of vital signs is needed to make sure body functions are stable.
- Oxygen therapy: Oxygen support may be needed in certain cases.
Preventing Alcohol Poisoning
The prevention of alcohol poisoning involves a little awareness and good discipline. Some useful tips to prevent it, and reduce the impact of their consequences are:
- Recognize the problem
- Keep track of your drinking limit
- Understand your alcohol tolerance
- Quit drinking or stick to your drinking limit
- Always eat before drinking alcohol
- Drink a full glass of water after every one or two drinks
- Avoid binge drinking at all cost
- Avoid mixing medications or illegal substances with alcohol
- Be mindful of your drinking environment
- Seek professional help
Sometimes, it takes time for a person who abuses alcohol to realize how much alcohol is too much. It does not take too many drinks to make the BAC shoot up to a toxic level. This is why too many episodes of binge drinking, blackouts, or alcohol poisoning may be a sign of alcoholism and should prompt individuals to seek professional help.
Conclusion
Alcohol poisoning is a public health issue that takes thousands of lives every year. Most cases are true medical emergencies that can be life-threatening. Therefore,ย it is imperative to raise awareness of this issue while also learning how to recognize the symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
If you consider that a friend or yourself may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, please don’t hesitate to call 911. Addiction resource is also here to help you, you can contact our free and confidential helpline at 800-913-1755.
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Page Sources
- Centers for disease control and prevention: Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use in the United States
- Mayo Clinic: Alcohol poisoning
- Lehigh Valley Live: How much you have to drink for a BAC of 0.30 or more
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose
- NHS: Alcohol poisoning
- Cleveland Clinic: Alcohol poisoning
- Cleveland Clinic: Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)