Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms, Risks & Treatment

Alcohol poisoning happens when someone consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short period, overwhelming their body’s ability to process it. When alcohol poisoning occurs, critical functions like breathing, heart rate, and temperature regulation can be severely affected.

Several factors affect how quickly alcohol poisoning can set in:

• Weight: Smaller individuals may experience alcohol poisoning effects faster than those who weigh more.
• Food intake: Having food in your stomach can slow down the absorption of alcohol.
• Hydration: Being dehydrated can make the effects of alcohol more severe.
• Tolerance: People who drink regularly may have a higher tolerance, but this doesn’t make them immune to overdose.
• Rate of consumption: Drinking large amounts quickly can increase the risk significantly.
• Type of alcohol: Drinks with higher alcohol content can lead to poisoning more quickly.
• Medications: Some medications can interact with alcohol, increasing its effects.

Understanding these factors can help people make safer choices and recognize alcohol poisoning signs sooner.

Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Recognizing alcohol poisoning symptoms can be life-saving. If someone notices any of these signs, it’s important to get help right away.

Some of the alcohol overdose signs to watch out for include:4

• Confusion or stupor
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Slow or irregular breathing
• Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
• Low body temperature (hypothermia)
• Unconsciousness and inability to wake up

These alcohol poisoning signs indicate a medical emergency and quick action can make a significant difference in the outcome. If in doubt, it’s always better to be safe and seek help immediately.

Alcohol poisoning, or overdose, occurs when someone consumes more alcohol than their body can process in a short period. One common cause is binge drinking, which the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s BAC to 0.08% or higher, typically happening when men consume five or more drinks or women consume four or more drinks in about two hours.3 This rapid intake of alcohol overwhelms the liver, which can’t break down and eliminate the toxins quickly enough.

However, alcohol poisoning isn’t just caused by drinking large amounts of alcohol alone. Mixing alcohol with certain medications or other substances can significantly increase the risk. For example, combining alcohol with benzodiazepines or opioids can depress the central nervous system, leading to dangerously slow breathing, unconsciousness, and even death. This is because both alcohol and these drugs can sedate the body, and their combined effects can be much more severe than taking them separately.

How to Prevent Alcohol Poisoning

Preventing alcohol poisoning involves taking steps to drink responsibly and be aware of the risks. Here are some recommendations to help you stay safe:1

• Drink in moderation: To prevent alcohol poisoning BAC from rising to dangerous levels, always drink in moderation and stay aware of your limits. For men, this means up to two drinks per day; for women, it’s up to one drink per day. 
• Eat food when drinking: Having food in your stomach slows alcohol absorption.
• Stay hydrated: Drink water between alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated.
• Avoid mixing with other drugs/medications: Be cautious of combining alcohol with medications or other substances. Especially, drugs that depress the central nervous system like benzodiazepines or opioids.
• Pace yourself: Don’t consume large amounts of alcohol quickly. Space out your drinks to give your body time to process the alcohol.

By following these tips, you can enjoy drinking more safely and reduce the risk of alcohol poisoning.

Timely intervention is key to successful alcohol poisoning recovery, reducing the risk of long-term health effects. Alcohol poisoning treatment primarily focuses on supportive care as there isn’t a quick fix to treat it.2 The approach is generally to manage the symptoms and provide necessary medical support. Once the person is in the hospital, medical professionals will take steps to ensure they can breathe properly, as respiratory depression is one of the most life-threatening symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

Medical staff will typically:

• Secure the airway: Ensure the person can breathe, sometimes using a tube if necessary.
• Administer IV fluids: To help with dehydration and maintain blood pressure.
• Monitor vital signs: Monitor heart rate, breathing, and other critical functions.
• Provide oxygen: If needed, to support breathing.
• Use medications: In some cases, to prevent seizures or other complications.

The goal of alcohol poisoning treatment is to stabilize the person and support their body as it processes the alcohol. Recovery can take time, and medical professionals are there to manage any complications during this period.