Alcohol Poisoning
What is alcohol poisoning?
Drinking can be a relaxing and social activity, but if you consume too much, you could be risking your life. Drinking
too much too fast can affect your breathing, heat rate, gag reflex, and can cause coma and death.
Alcohol poisoning should be taken seriously.
What causes alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning is most commonly caused by binge drinking, but can also occur through accidental ingestion of
household products containing alcohol. Alcohol is absorbed through the stomach very quickly. If you are drinking on
an empty stomach, alcohol will begin to affect your brain functions in less than one minute.
In the body, alcohol acts as a depressant, changing the way the body and the brain function. Alcohol slows the down
normal functions including heart beat, breathing, and your gag reflex that keeps you from choking. Too much alcohol
in a short time can cause your system to slow down too far causing you to pass out, or your organs to stop
functioning.
Who gets alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol poisoning can happen to anyone who drinks too much too fast. However, alcohol poisoning is more common
among certain people:
Age: Teens, young adults, and less experienced drinkers are less likely to know safe limits and will be more
vulnerable to the effects. This age group is also more likely to binge drink—consume large amount in short
periods. However, the majority of alcohol poisoning deaths occur in people age 45 to 54.
Sex: Men are known to binge drink more frequently, but in recent years women are beginning to binge drink
just as much as men. Women are more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol; women tend to have a higher
percentage of body fat and thus a lower percentage of body water, so when drinking the same amount of
alcohol the woman will tend to achieve a higher alcohol concentration.
Size and weight: The smaller and thinner you are the faster your body will absorb the alcohol, making you
more vulnerable to poisoning.
Recent food consumption: Drinking on a full stomach slow your body’s absorption of the alcohol.
Remember, this does not prevent alcohol poisoning.
Other drugs: Use of other drugs and prescriptions can increase your risk of alcohol poisoning.
Over all health: Conditions like heart disease or diabetes make you more vulnerable to alcohol poisoning. If
you have a chronic condition talk to your doctor about how your condition may affect your reaction to
alcohol.
What are the sign and symptoms of alcohol poisoning?
Signs of alcohol poisoning include:
Consumption of large amounts of alcohol
Cannot be woken up after drinking
Skin feels cold and clammy or looks pale or bluefish
Breathing slows or become irregular (fewer than 10 breaths a minute)
Vomiting without waking up
What to do if you think someone has alcohol poisoning?
Try to wake the person: call their name or pinch their skin should lead to some reaction. If you cannot
wake the person at all get medical attention for this person.
Call poison control: If the person is conscious, call 1-800-222-1222 and you will be connected to your local
poison control center. They will be able to instruct you on how to treat your friend or get them to medical
care.
Do not leave them. Even if they do not have alcohol poisoning they may be at risk for other reasons. Some
people drink so much they choke on their own vomit, or other physical risks such as accidents or sexual
assault.
Turn them on their side: this will prevent them from choking while lying on their back or if they vomit.
Check skin color or temperature: if their heart beat has slowed, they will not be getting enough blood to
their skin. If this is happening, their skin will be pale or bluish and cold or clammy.
Check their breathing. Because alcohol is a depressant, their breathing may be slowed and could stop. If
their breathing is irregular (fewer then 8 breaths per minute or more then 10 seconds between breaths), this
person needs medical attention.
Seek medical attention. Don't worry about getting in trouble for drinking; your friend's life may depend on
getting to a hospital.
How is alcohol poisoning treated?
Medical care providers will provide fluids intravenously until the alcohol is removed from the body. Do not attempt to
treat someone with alcohol poisoning. Get medical attention. Even if you think your friend will be mad at you, it is not
worth is when their life is at risk.
Preventing alcohol poisoning
When drinking alcohol, there is a threshold where drinking more does not change your “buzz.” Drinking more will only
cause harm, such as dehydration or alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol poisoning is caused by drinking too much alcohol in a period on time. To prevent alcohol poisoning always
remember to drink in moderation. Below are additional tips to prevent alcohol poisoning:
Only drink one serving of alcohol an hour (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor)
Avoid drinking on an empty stomach
Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (for example, try drinking one glass of water after every
alcoholic drink)
Never mix alcohol and other drugs or medications
Do not drink because you are being pressured
Set a limit before you start drinking and stick to it
Every person tolerates a different amount of alcohol. Do not try to pace or compete with anyone else.
How can I help a friend who may have a drinking problem?
The most obvious signs that a friend has a drinking problem include:
Drinking until passing out
Drinking at inappropriate times before class, before driving
Becoming violent or aggressive after drinking
Missing responsibilities due to drinking
Changing habits to spend time with more heavy drinkers
Experiencing blackouts or memory loss while drinking
Family history of chemical dependency
Personality changes when drinking
When you decide to help a friend:
Don’t stay quiet. Talk to a counselor or a mutual friend to get their opinion. You may not be the only person
who is concerned.
Don’t make excuses. Covering for your friend will hurt you and your friend in the long run.
Ask your friend. Talk to your friend, maybe there is something else going on that you can help your friend
cope with like stress from school, a recent break-up, transitioning to a new home life, etc.
Wait until you are both sober. This conversation will be more productive if both of you can clearly
communicate your feelings, and you will both clearly remember the conversation later.
Tell your friend how you feel. Tell your friend that you are concerned. Be specific to help them understand
the root of your concerns.
Do not place blame. Use I statements to express how you feel. For example, “I worry when you drink so
often.” This avoids blaming the person, forcing them to become defensive.
Try again. If your friend responds negatively, you can try to talk to them again if there is another episode of
worrisome behavior.
Think about their possible responses. Allow your friend time to react after you have spoken your piece.
Stay calm and try to remain objective. Remember you are trying to help.
Be ready to help. If you convince this friend, you may need to be there for them to help them through this
time.
Create a support system. You and your friend should not have to go through this alone. See below, there
are lots of resources for you both to find support.
Know when to draw the line. You need to recognize how your friends’ drinking is affecting you, and when
you should stop.
This article was adapted from material originally found on the UW-Seattle Hall Health Center website,
http://www.hallhealthcenter.com.