What is Alcohol Poisoning?

Treatment is necessary as soon as possible after the symptoms of alcohol poisoning are recognized. The signs of alcohol poisoning vary somewhat from person to person, so it is important to be educated about the variety of symptoms that can potentially occur. Treatment for alcohol poisoning is completed at an emergency facility so the medical staff can monitor the patient for additional symptoms and life-threatening conditions.
“…it is important to be educated about the variety of symptoms of alcohol poisoning that can potentially occur.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 79,000 deaths caused by excessive alcohol use each year in the United States. Alcohol poisoning is a major concern and a complication of excessive drinking, so it’s important to seek help if you or a loved one is dependent on or addicted to alcohol.

How Much Is Too Much?

Alcohol poisoning treatment will be based on how much someone has had to drink. Some standard drinks that are considered one alcoholic drink include:

• 5 ounces of wine
• 8 ounces of malt liquor
• 12 ounces of beer
• 12 ounces of a wine cooler

It is important to know that different sizes of drinks can contain more than one serving of alcohol. For example, 24 ounces of beer is two drinks, not one. Binge drinking, which can lead to alcohol poisoning, occurs when a woman drinks four or more alcoholic beverages at one occasion. For a man, consuming five or more drinks is considered to be binge drinking.

More than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men is considered to be heavy drinking. Heavy drinking can also lead to alcohol poisoning, and it is even more likely to cause long-term health problems.

Alcohol poisoning is a serious consequence of excessive drinking, so it’s important to help your friends and family members to stop drinking heavily to prevent this kind of dangerous alcohol overdose. Alcohol poisoning treatment can help someone who has overdosed.

What is Alcohol Poisoning Like?

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. It occurs when a person’s blood alcohol levels are so high the central nervous system is suppressed. Alcohol poisoning symptoms include:

• A loss of consciousness
• Low blood pressure
• Low body temperature
• Coma
• Respiratory depression
• Death

If someone you know has been heavily drinking, passes out and won’t wake up, or if he or she stops breathing, call 911 immediately and start CPR if necessary. It is important to seek emergency treatment as soon as possible to prevent damage from occurring in the body. Once the medical team is there, a number of steps can be taken to remove the alcohol from the system and to negate the negative effects of alcohol on the body during the overdose. Even if you are unsure if your friend or family member has had too much to drink, it is better to err on the side of caution.

Additional Signs to Watch For

Even if a person has only passed out, it is important to understand that the blood alcohol content can continue to rise and lead to dangerous levels of alcohol in the body. Someone who has had too much alcohol could also vomit, which could lead to asphyxiation if the person is unconscious.
Some additional signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

• Irregular breathing
• Hypothermia
• Blue-colored skin
• Pale skin
• Seizures
• Mental confusion
• Vomiting

If someone is showing these symptoms, it is very important to seek addiction treatment immediately. Call 911 right away. Even if the patient does not die from the poisoning, it can lead to brain damage and potentially be fatal the next time.

Alcohol poisoning treatment is vital to the health and safety of someone who has overdosed on alcohol. Make sure to watch for the signs and symptoms of poisoning to help those you love. Call us at for more information on alcohol poisoning treatment.