How to Prevent Alcohol Poisoning: A Guide

Drinks after work on a Friday. Drinking by the pool on the weekend. Celebrating a 21st birthday at the bar. All of these are commonplace in our society. While drinking in moderation can be ok, drink a little too much, and you might wake up with a hangover.

But, if you don’t know when to stop drinking, it could be life-threatening. The higher the blood-alcohol level, the higher the risk of alcohol poisoning. It’s important to learn the signs of drinking too much and how to prevent alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning can happen after drinking a large amount of alcohol, typically in a short amount of time. When the blood-alcohol level gets so high, it becomes toxic, and the body can no longer function normally.

A person may become extremely confused, unresponsive, disoriented, take shallow breaths, pass out, or go into a coma. Alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening and usually requires urgent medical attention.

Drinking heavily is a common cause of alcohol poisoning. But, it can also happen if someone intentionally or unintentionally drinks household products that contain alcohol. Knowing how to prevent alcohol poisoning begins with understanding who’s at risk for it, what causes it, and the symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “More than three-quarters of deaths from excessive drinking are among males, totaling more than 97,000 deaths each year in the U.S.” Also, the rates of alcohol-related hospitalizations are higher among men than women. Anyone who drinks heavily can experience alcohol poisoning.

Factors for alcohol poisoning include:

• A person’s age
• The amount of food in the stomach
• Previous experience drinking alcohol

But how much alcohol is too much alcohol? Let’s break down the percentages of blood-alcohol content (BAC).

The cause of alcohol poisoning is too much alcohol in the blood. It is also called an alcohol overdose. The percentage of the blood-alcohol content is measured to determine the amount of alcohol in the blood. However, it doesn’t take much for the alcohol in the blood to cause issues. For example:

• BAC between 0.0 and 0.05% – Considered a mild impairment. Symptoms include some trouble speaking and remembering things, being clumsy, and feeling tired.
• BAC between 0.06 and 0.15% – Effects of mild impairment worsen, with a significant impact on driving skills
• BAC between 0.16 and 0.30% – Effects of impairment worsen. Judgment and decision-making skills are significantly impaired. Vomiting is common, and blackouts can happen.
• BAC between 0.31 and 0.45% – These levels are life-threatening with a significant risk of death due to the depressant effect slowing down crucial body functions.

Even when drinking alcohol stops, the BAC can continue rising for 30 to 40 minutes. This can result in symptoms worsening.

Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous. Knowing and understanding the symptoms of alcohol poisoning can be life-saving.

Common alcohol poisoning symptoms include:

• Trouble staying conscious
• Cold, clammy, or bluish-colored skin, especially around the lips and fingernails
• Confusion, slowed responses, lack of coordination, or inability to walk
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths) or heart rate
• Difficulty controlling bowels and bladder
• A strong smell of alcohol
• Vomiting

In severe cases:

• Heart attacks
• Hypothermia
• Risk of choking on vomit
• Breathing can stop completely
• Blood glucose levels drop, causing seizures
• Losing too much fluid, leading to brain damage

When alcohol poisoning is extremely severe, it can cause a person to go into a coma, or it can be fatal.

Testing a person’s BAC can happen in two main ways, including:

• Breathalyzer test – When a person drinks, the alcohol goes through the bloodstream to the lungs. It evaporates into the lungs, and then a person breathes it out. As they blow through the breathalyzer, it estimates the amount of alcohol on their breath.
• Blood test – A lab technician uses a needle to draw a small amount of blood. The blood is then analyzed for its BAC. This test is most accurate within six to 12 hours of the last drink.

A person who drinks so much alcohol they overdose can have:

• Blackouts or amnesia
• Irregular or stopped heartbeat
• Low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Loss of consciousness can lead to death quickly
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) (which can cause seizures)
• Severe vomiting leading to dehydration, seizures, brain damage, or death

How Do You Treat Alcohol Poisoning?

Depending on the level of alcohol poisoning, a person may need immediate life-saving treatment. Once at the emergency room, medical professionals use the following treatments:

• IV fluids – Intravenous fluids are given to treat dehydration and increase blood sugar levels.
• Oxygen – Oxygen is given through a nasal cannula ( a tube in the nose). Doctors may insert a tube down the throat if the person struggles to breathe.
• Stomach pumping – By inserting a tube into the stomach, doctors can remove the alcohol.
• Blood filtration – If the kidneys struggle to clear the alcohol from the blood, doctors may put the person on dialysis to help.

If you have been treated for alcohol poisoning, you may need to ask yourself if you need alcohol addiction treatment.

What to Do If Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning

If you see someone showing signs of alcohol poisoning, there are things you can do. They include:

• Call 911 for help
• Stay with the person and keep them awake
• If they are awake, give them sips of water
• Cover them with a blanket and keep them warm
• Talk to them and explain what you are doing
• If the person is unconscious, turn the person on their side to prevent them choking on their vomit

When paramedics arrive, tell them what you know about the person, including how much they drank. They will also need to know what you have done since calling 911.

Alcohol poisoning can occur when a person drinks a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. It can be a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. Here are some tips on how to prevent alcohol poisoning:

drunk alcoholic lain business man drinking whiskey from the bottle and glass depressed wasted and sad at home couch in alcohol abuse and alcoholism conceptNow that you know how to prevent alcohol poisoning, learn how Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery can help men overcome their alcohol addiction. The stigma surrounding men seeking help for alcohol addiction causes men to be in denial of a problem and feel shameful.

And while many men need treatment, only a small number actually get help. A big benefit of seeking help at Eagle Creek Ranch Recovery is that we are a men-only addiction treatment center. This can help men feel free to express themselves without the pressure of being a “tough guy.”

Our continuum-of-care programs mean you step up or down depending on your needs. This offers men the best chance of lifelong recovery.

Alcohol addiction treatment programs we offer include:

• Detox
• Residential treatment
• Outpatient treatment

Since many men struggling with alcohol addiction have underlying mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression, we also offer dual diagnosis treatment. Men entering our treatment center are evaluated for mental health disorders and, if needed, may attend the following therapies.

• Group therapy
• Family Therapy
• Individual or psychotherapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

If you or a man in your life is struggling with substance abuse, it is time to stop struggling and reclaim your life. Contact us today and find out how our men-only rehab can help you.