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Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is another term for an alcohol overdose, which happens when a person drinks too much in a short period. When not addressed right away, alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency and can cause serious health complications, including death.

If you or a loved one suspects you have alcohol poisoning, seek medical help immediately by calling 911.

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What Is Alcohol Poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning is an unintended side effect of drinking alcohol in large amounts, usually through binge drinking.

The amount of alcohol needed to cause alcohol poisoning can vary from person to person.

Some key factors behind the amount of alcohol needed to get alcohol poisoning include:

  • Size
  • Weight
  • Overall health
  • Tolerance level
  • Type of alcohol consumed
  • If alcohol use occurs with other substance use
  • How much food is in the person’s system

Underage drinkers, for instance, are at a higher risk as they often have high metabolisms and lower weight—meaning excessive alcohol consumption can build up in their bodies more quickly than their adult counterparts.

Other factors such as the alcohol content and type of alcoholic drinks consumed, whether the person is drinking on an empty stomach, and whether other substance abuse occurred alongside alcohol consumption can also play a role in the risk of alcohol poisoning.

Certain health conditions (i.e., hypoglycemia and high blood pressure) can also increase a person’s risk of alcohol poisoning.

However, alcohol poisoning ultimately happens when the level of alcohol in the person’s body—also known as their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or blood alcohol level—becomes high enough that the person’s body begins to shut down.

How Does Alcohol Poisoning Occur?

Whenever people consume alcohol, the body naturally filters it out of the bloodstream through the liver. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the body can only process roughly one unit of alcohol an hour (e.g., 12oz beer, 5oz glass of wine, or 1.5oz shot).

When you drink more than what your body can process in an hour, you begin to experience “drunkenness.” However, if the alcohol level in the body gets too high, it can lead to an alcohol overdose.

Alcohol Poisoning Facts and Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2010 and 2012, an average of six people died a day in the U.S. from alcohol poisoning.

The CDC also reports the following alcohol overdose data:

  • Nearly 75% of all alcohol poisoning deaths are among adults between the ages of 35 and 64
  • Roughly 76% of all people who die from alcohol poisoning are men
  • Indigenous Americans (i.e., Native Americans and Alaskan Natives) have the most alcohol poisoning deaths per million people of any race in the U.S.
  • Alaska has the most alcohol poisoning deaths per million people

Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning can occur quickly and can be severe. Knowing some common signs of alcohol poisoning can help determine when to seek medical attention.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:

  • Vomiting
  • Irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
  • Confusion
  • Poor coordination
  • Clammy skin
  • Slowed breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)
  • Incontinence
  • Hypothermia
  • Passing out
  • Blackouts (memory gaps)
  • Blue or pale skin
  • Seizures

If you or someone you know is experiencing alcohol poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.

Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose

If not treated right away, the dangerous side effects of alcohol poisoning can be life-threatening. For instance, alcohol poisoning suppresses the gag reflex, increasing the chances of asphyxiation (i.e., the risk of choking on your vomit).

Below are some of the consequences of alcohol poisoning:

  • Severe dehydration, often leading to permanent brain damage
  • Extremely low body temperature, causing hypothermia
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Asphyxiation on one’s vomit
  • Irregular heart rate and possible heart attack
  • Drop in blood sugar, which can cause seizures
  • Coma
  • Death

What To Do If You Suspect Alcohol Poisoning

If you suspect someone you know is suffering from alcohol poisoning, you must get them medical attention immediately. The longer they go without medical help, the more severe (and permanent) their symptoms can become.

If you see someone experiencing alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately before doing anything else. 

After you have called 911, you can do the following while waiting for the ambulance to arrive:

  • Wait with the person
  • Keep them awake
  • Have them sit upright
  • Have them drink water
  • Keep them warm
  • If they are unconscious, maneuver them onto their side to prevent them from choking on their vomit (known as the recovery position)

Once the paramedics arrive, offer any information you know, especially details like:

  • The person’s symptoms
  • How long since symptoms began
  • How much the individual drank

What NOT to Do

In addition to the things previously listed that you should do, there are things you should not do under any circumstances. While well-meaning, these attempts to help the person with alcohol poisoning will not help and, in some cases, can make things worse.

The following tactics have been disproven and do not help the inebriated person:

  • Giving them coffee or a cold shower to “sober them up”
  • Encourage them to “walk it off”
  • Inducing vomiting
  • Forcing the person to eat
  • Leaving the person unattended to “sleep it off”

Instead, as mentioned above, if you suspect a person is suffering from an alcohol overdose, call 911 and stay with them until help arrives.

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How Is Alcohol Poisoning Treated?

Once under the care and supervision of medical professionals, doctors will use various methods to treat alcohol poisoning.

Some of these treatment methods include:

  • Stomach pumping
  • Blood filtration
  • IV fluids
  • Oxygen

Get Help for Alcohol-Related Issues

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol intake or may be concerned that your usage has turned into alcohol use disorder (AUD), there are plenty of resources available to help you out.

Call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit their online program locator to find various alcohol addiction treatment providers in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alcohol Poisoning

What are the main signs of alcohol poisoning?

Some of the most common signs of alcohol poisoning include:

  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Poor coordination
  • Irregular breathing (a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
  • Clammy skin
  • Blue or pale skin
  • Slowed breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)
  • Hypothermia
  • Passing out

What is the best thing to do for alcohol poisoning?

If someone you know is experiencing alcohol poisoning, call 911 immediately. While waiting for paramedics to arrive, do the following:

  • Wait with the person
  • Keep them awake
  • Have them sit upright
  • Have them drink water
  • Keep them warm
  • If they are unconscious, maneuver them onto their side to prevent them from choking on their vomit

What are the long-term effects of alcohol poisoning?

If left untreated or if not treated fast enough, alcohol poisoning can cause brain damage. It can also lead to life-threatening medical issues such as a heart attack, seizures, coma, and death.

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. is a founder of Addiction HelpReviewed by:Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder

  • Fact-Checked
  • Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.

Jessica Miller is the Content Manager of Addiction HelpWritten by:

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

  1. Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention. Cleveland Clinic. (2020, October 15). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16640-alcohol-poisoning
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, July 6). Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/features/excessive-alcohol-deaths.html
  3. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, April 29). Alcohol Poisoning. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354386
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, January). Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-dangers-of-alcohol-overdose
  5. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Overview of Alcohol Consumption. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption
  6. WebMD. (2023, November 7). Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes, Complications, And Treatment. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-poisoning-overview

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