Alcohol Intoxication Treatment: First Aid Information for Alcohol Intoxication
BAC and the number of drinks you consume are very rough indicators of impairment. Alcohol intoxication can vary by tolerance (meaning whether your body is accustomed to the presence of alcohol through repeated use), your gender, body weight, body fat percentage, and other factors. Someone who is “just drunk” will be slurring their words, stumbling around, and acting drowsy. Someone with alcohol poisoning will be breathing slowly or irregularly, have cold skin, be vomiting a lot, and perhaps have a seizure or lose consciousness. A drunk person can recover with rest, fluids, and eating a balanced meal, alcohol poisoning while a person with alcohol poisoning needs to go to the hospital and get an IV or maybe their stomach pumped. In the U.S., paramedics don’t charge for a visit unless the person needs to go to the hospital.
Cancer
All condition, treatment and wellness content is medically reviewed by at least one medical professional ensuring the most accurate information possible. Alcohol poisoning is the presence of so much alcohol in the blood that it alters the function of the brain and other organs. Signs and symptoms include confusion, slow breathing, a loss of consciousness, and vomiting. To prevent alcohol poisoning, drink alcohol in moderation. This generally means having one drink per day for females or having two drinks per day for males.
Recognizing an overdose
Learn about the signs and symptoms of alcohol use disorder here. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person. The good news is that it’s possible to survive alcohol intoxication if appropriate medical treatment is given promptly.
Excessive alcohol use
Alcohol at very high levels can hinder signals in the brain that control automatic responses, such as the gag reflex. With no gag reflex, a person who drinks to the point of passing out is in danger of choking on their vomit and dying from a lack of oxygen (i.e., asphyxiation). Even if the person survives, an alcohol overdose like this can lead to long-lasting brain damage. If you’re with someone who might have drunk too much, call 911 right away. If you or your friend are under the legal drinking age, you might be worried about the legal consequences.
Signs and symptoms
The emergency room physician will monitor your vital signs, including your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. Many people consume alcohol because it has a relaxing effect, and drinking can be a healthy social experience. But consuming large amounts of alcohol, even one time, can lead to serious health complications. People are at a high risk of alcohol poisoning if they consume 12 or more units of alcohol, especially in a short space of time. This is equivalent to just under 6 medium glasses of wine, or around 7 bottles of 5% beer.
Charitable Care & Financial Assistance
The person will be hospitalized until their vital signs return to normal. Any of these symptoms are signs that immediate medical attention is necessary. At this stage, a person’s BAC will range from 0.25 to 0.4 percent. At this stage of intoxication, the person’s behavior will be normal with no visible signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or delayed reaction time.
How can I prevent accidental intoxication?
- Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks.
- This guide explains the causes, signs and symptoms, what you can do to stay safe and how you can help others.
- Despite many people gaining a pleasant intoxicating effect from alcohol, the substance is a depressant.
- If vomit is inhaled into the lungs, it can cause a person to stop breathing.
- A person with alcohol poisoning who has passed out or can’t wake up could die.
If you suspect an alcohol overdose and the person is unconscious, do not leave them alone. Call 911 if someone you know is experiencing an alcohol overdose. This is a serious condition that can be life-threatening.
Binge drinking and high intensity drinking
If possible, give emergency personnel information about the type and amount of alcohol the person consumed. Also, let them know how long it has been since the person stopped consuming alcohol. The higher your BAC, the greater is the depressant effect on these functions. Alcohol poisoning symptoms are the result of these depressant effects. Some people may be able to drink more alcohol than others, with fewer effects.
- Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — result of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time.
- Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for any of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning listed above.
- Alcoholic drinks contain a form of alcohol known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
- They’ll also order blood and urine tests to check your alcohol levels.
- Always practice safety precautions when using substances and know your limits.
We absorb alcohol much more quickly than food – alcohol gets to our bloodstream much faster. If the alcohol poisoning is extreme, the patient can go into a coma and potentially die. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. In the https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-relapse-signs-symptoms-stages-stats/ Gaudiya Vaishnavism branch of Hinduism, one of the four regulative principles forbids the taking of intoxicants, including alcohol.
Medical Professionals
If you’re concerned about developing a substance use disorder, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. They can connect you with resources to get treatment that’s right for you. But if you go to the emergency room for another issue while intoxicated or are experiencing accidental intoxication, a healthcare provider will want to know what’s in your system. It takes an average adult around an hour to process one unit of alcohol so that there’s none left in their bloodstream, although this varies a lot from person to person. Alcohol is a toxic substance.3 That means it can cause harm and every time you drink, your liver has to filter it out of your blood, to keep your body working properly.