Josh Chandler | April 12, 2024

10 Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

Alcohol poisoning symptoms are alarming and require immediate emergency medical attention. Alcohol poisoning can occur when too much alcohol enters the bloodstream. Consuming too much alcohol, a toxin to the body, in a short period of time, or binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is life-threatening and can involve symptoms such as difficulty remaining conscious and reduced heart rate. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the dangers that alcohol can pose when too much is consumed. 

Alcohol-related deaths are among the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S. Though legally available and sold everywhere, from restaurants to convenience stores, alcohol is a dangerous substance. Alcohol is also highly addictive. Today, millions of people in the country are addicted to alcohol. However, a person does not have to be addicted to alcohol to experience alcohol poisoning. 

Muse Treatment offers substance abuse treatment designed to help people who have an alcohol use disorder. Our treatment programs include alcohol detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, and aftercare. Since many people who have an addiction to alcohol also have a mental health condition, we offer dual diagnosis treatment. Our licensed clinicians at our Los Angeles inpatient alcohol detox center can also prescribe medication-assisted treatment for individuals who can benefit from this type of therapy. 

Alcohol addiction is a chronic condition, but it can be managed successfully. At Muse Treatment, you can get help coping with all aspects of alcoholism. Our rehab setting is welcoming and designed to support the recovery process. With treatment, you can develop strategies for effectively managing your triggers to drink and preventing relapse.

 

10 Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

Introduction to Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a serious, life-threatening condition. Drinking too much alcohol before the body can process it can cause the blood to be poisoned. This poisoning can lead to organ damage and failure. The body can only digest and process alcohol so quickly. Consuming too much puts a person at risk of life-threatening alcohol poisoning symptoms.

Since everyone is different, there’s no way of knowing how much is precisely too much to drink. Some people metabolize alcohol more quickly than others. However, anyone can experience alcohol poisoning if they consume more alcohol than is safe for them. If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning symptoms or you are, you need to contact emergency medical services for help.

Core Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

What are the main symptoms of alcohol poisoning? The following symptoms are among common core alcohol poisoning symptoms. You must get medical attention as quickly as possible if these symptoms are present. Remember that even if an individual survives alcohol poisoning, they can be left with some permanent effects, such as organ damage and the signs that alcohol is harming your liver. The sooner medical help is received, the better for the individual’s prognosis. These are the core alcohol poisoning symptoms:

  • 1. Excessive confusion
  • 2. Vomiting
  • 3. Seizures
  • 4. Slow or irregular breathing
  • 5. Hypothermia (low body temperature)

Critical Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Some additional critical signs of alcohol poisoning that you should never ignore are:

  • 6. Pale or bluish skin
  • 7. Unconsciousness or inability to wake up
  • 8. Severe confusion
  • 9. Choking or gagging
  • 10. Extreme stupor

Don’t hesitate to contact emergency medical services if you witness these symptoms in an individual. Alcohol poisoning can cause death, so fast medical attention can be the key to saving a person’s life. 

 

Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Additional Symptoms and Warning Signs

There may be additional warning signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning that you should know about. For instance, a person may not be able to control their bladder and can experience incontinence as a result of alcohol poisoning. Someone struggling to walk or displaying severe loss of coordination may be experiencing symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Look for other symptoms if this occurs. Medical services have various resources for testing a person’s blood-alcohol level and can quickly determine if the individual is suffering from alcohol poisoning. So, if you suspect someone is, you should contact emergency medical care. 

Responding to Alcohol Poisoning

The first step for responding to someone with suspected alcohol poisoning is to call for emergency medical services. Next, you should attempt to keep the individual awake. If the person is awake, encourage them to sip water. If the person is unconscious, turn them on their side so that they don’t choke on any vomit should it occur. Cover the individual up with a blanket, as alcohol poisoning may reduce the person’s body temperature.

As you perform these activities, let the individual know what you’re doing and how it may help them. Be sure to remain with the individual until emergency medical services arrive so you can provide them with any information they need about the individual in question. They will likely ask you if you know how much the person has drunk when they began to drink and who the individual is. 

 

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Prevention and Education on Alcohol Poisoning

Unfortunately, many people who drink don’t know how much alcohol is too much. It generally takes the body about one hour to process one alcoholic drink. Drinking in excess of one drink per hour, therefore, increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol is a toxin, and your body, the liver in particular, requires time to process it and remove it from the body. Alcohol enters the bloodstream during the process of alcohol metabolism, so if the liver can’t break it down fast enough, alcohol in the blood can impair normal bodily functions like breathing. 

People should understand the risk factors for alcohol poisoning, such as the differences between binge drinking vs. alcoholism and the dangers that are possible with each. Binge drinking, consuming one drink after another in a short period of time, can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning — and this is just one of the long-term impacts of heavy drinking. Combining alcohol with medications or illicit drugs can also heighten the risk of alcohol poisoning and/or drug overdose. Drinking on an empty stomach can also heighten the risk of alcohol poisoning.

How Muse Treatment Can Help with Alcohol-Related Issues

Alcohol addiction is serious and will cause the deterioration of mental and physical health if not treated effectively. Muse Treatment offers high-quality alcohol addiction treatment on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Our clinicians can treat alcohol addiction as well as all other forms of substance addiction. Our comprehensive treatment plans target all aspects of addiction. We can meet you wherever you are in your recovery process — at the start or near the finish. 

Many people begin their alcohol recovery journey with medical detox. We offer alcohol detox with 24-hour monitoring. Our drug and alcohol detox program targets the physical dependence associated with alcohol addiction. After completing detox, which usually lasts about a week, clients can begin their inpatient or outpatient rehab therapy that targets the psychological and behavioral aspects of their alcohol use disorder. Each person achieves their recovery milestones at their own speed, which is why Muse Treatment offers alcohol addiction treatment that’s customized for each person. As clients’ support needs change, we can change to accommodate them. 

Contact Muse Treatment Center to learn more about our alcohol treatment programming. Treatment can help you end your dependence on alcohol so you can protect your health and future and no longer be at risk of alcohol poisoning symptoms. Call us at 800-426-1818 to begin your enrollment process today. Don’t let alcohol ruin another day of your precious life when Muse Treatment is here to help you transform your life for the better.

Alcohol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Detox,
Josh Chandler
Josh Chandler
After growing up in Chicago and North Carolina, Josh chose to get help with substance use disorder and mental health in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than five years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for four years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. Josh remains passionate about the field because he understands that one phone call can alter the course of a person's life.


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