As many as 13.8% of Kentuckians reported binge drinking behavior in 2022. Some of those people experienced alcohol poisoning as a result of their binge drinking.
At Altruism Counseling, we want to educate our local community on the serious impact that an alcohol overdose can have on your health. That’s why it’s important to delve into what an alcohol overdose is, how it’s identified, and what you should do if you’re with someone who needs alcohol poisoning treatment.
Alcohol poisoning is a serious health condition that occurs when you drink more alcohol than your body can handle. When there’s too much alcohol in your bloodstream, important parts of your brain begin to shut down. This causes issues with heart rate and body temperature regulation.
The most common way people get alcohol poisoning is by drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages at once. Some people believe that certain alcoholic drinks, like hard liquor, are more likely to cause an overdose than other beverages, like beer and wine. The truth is that it doesn’t matter what kind of alcohol you drink. Any alcoholic drink, in large enough quantity, can cause alcohol poisoning.
Overdosing on alcohol is much easier than most people realize. Something as simple and fun as drinking games with friends can cause it. Someone who’s drinking to distract themselves from difficult emotions could also easily drink too much. They might think that they need one more drink to feel better when that’s exactly what will put them in danger.
If you believe that someone you love is experiencing an alcohol overdose, get medical attention as soon as possible. Seeing your loved one in such a dangerous state is scary. Your first instinct might be to try to sober them up with water, coffee, or a shower. But at this point, they need more help than you can give them.
There is often a slight delay between a person’s last drink and the onset of alcohol poisoning. This is because the alcohol has to make its way from the stomach into the bloodstream.
Common signs of an alcohol overdose include:
When someone you’re with begins showing signs of alcohol poisoning, it can be frightening. But you
After alcohol hits your stomach, it’s quickly digested and makes its way to your bloodstream. As this occurs, your blood alcohol content (BAC) begins to rise. Once the alcohol is in your blood, it makes its way throughout the body and, eventually, to the liver, where it is filtered out. The higher your BAC is, the more difficult it is for your liver to remove alcohol from your system.
BAC is measured in grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood. For context, it’s illegal to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher in Kentucky. With a BAC of .08%, you’ll feel very relaxed, and your judgment will be slightly impaired. Once you reach a BAC of somewhere between .15% and .30%, you’ll begin vomiting and be extremely disoriented. Alcohol poisoning usually begins somewhere between .30% and .40% BAC. Anything above .40% BAC is potentially lethal and could cause you to stop breathing.
Since alcohol poisoning is a potentially life-threatening diagnosis, it is quickly assessed by emergency personnel. They will ask if the person has been drinking and what symptoms they have. If this lines up with an alcohol overdose, that’s usually enough for a diagnosis. In some cases, a medical professional will test your BAC using a breather or blood test to determine how much alcohol is in the system.
Medical professionals may also administer liver and heart function tests (like ultrasounds or EKGs)
The most common ways to treat alcohol poisoning are for medical professionals to pump the stomach to clear it of any remaining alcohol and administer IV fluids to keep the person hydrated. Oxygen therapy is used to reduce the risk of oxygen deprivation symptoms.
It’s never a good idea to let someone “sleep off” alcohol poisoning. They need to be monitored by a healthcare professional to ensure their condition doesn’t worsen.
There are many health risks associated with an alcohol overdose. It is very common to experience blackouts or short-term amnesia leading up to and during alcohol poisoning.
You’re also at high risk for low blood sugar and severe vomiting. Both of these conditions can lead to seizures. Seizures come with a whole host of potential permanent health problems, including memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes due to brain damage. Alcohol poisoning also prevents oxygen from getting to the brain effectively, which also leads to further brain damage or coma.
Alcohol poisoning has a severe impact on your liver. It can cause alcohol-induced hepatitis, where the lining of the liver becomes inflamed. You could also experience acute liver failure, where your liver stops working and can’t rid the body of alcohol. Both of these conditions could become chronic, meaning the condition stays with you long-term.
The first thing you should do if you suspect someone has alcohol poisoning is call 911. Remember that Kentucky has a Good Samaritan Law. This means that you won’t get in trouble for underage drinking when you call for emergency medical attention.
Once you’ve called for help, there are 5 more steps you should take to help someone with alcohol poisoning:
When emergency responders arrive, be prepared to give them any information they request. Tell them as much as you can about how much the person drank, what they drank, and how long ago their last drink was. Be sure to let them know what you’ve done since you called and any changes in your loved one’s condition.
If it’s your relationship with alcohol that you’re concerned about and not your loved one’s you may be looking for ways to prevent alcohol poisoning. There are no tips and tricks that allow you to drink heavily and not overdose. The best way to prevent an alcohol overdose is to drink in moderation. You get alcohol poisoning when you binge drink a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time. The best way to avoid alcohol poisoning is to pace yourself when drinking.
It’s important to know your limits when it comes to alcohol. When you start to feel intoxicated, take a break before your next drink. Switch to water, and give your body a chance to metabolize the alcohol already in your system.
It’s always a good idea to eat before drinking. You should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during a night out. You should also avoid mixing alcohol with medication, which could make the symptoms of an overdose worse.
Alcohol poisoning is dangerous and should always be treated seriously. Medical intervention can save lives and prevent serious, long-term harm. Alcohol poisoning can also be a sign that your drinking is getting more intense. If you or someone you love has developed an alcohol use disorder, alcoholism treatment can help you reclaim your life.
Working with a therapist in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) will help you identify the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Together, you and your therapist will develop alternative coping strategies so you can live life without alcohol use.
Altruism Counseling provides sober living and addiction treatment services in Lexington, Kentucky. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and cash payment – and while insurance likely won’t cover your entire sober living experience, we strive to make everything affordable. We’ll empower you to navigate every step of this process. Call us at 859-310-6505 today and take the first step toward a healthier, more meaningful life.
Altruism Counseling: Find yourself.
