Alcohol Poisoning

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Approximately 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year in the United States. In addition, about once every week, someone needlessly dies from alcohol poisoning. Understanding alcohol poisoning and its symptoms and the causes of a toxic reaction and responding appropriately to such situations can help avoid a fatal alcohol overdose.

The saddest part about alcohol poisoning, especially when an individual loses his or her life to alcohol poisoning, however, is that it is 100 per cent avoidable.

Alcohol Poisoning and Blood Alcohol Level Factors

Alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol overdose, is a dangerous and sometimes deadly result of drinking significantly more ethanol alcohol than the body can process.

image: alcohol poisoning patient asleep in ER It is important to point out, moreover, that binge drinking (consuming five or more alcoholic drinks at one sitting for males and drinking four or more alcoholic beverages at one sitting for females) can also result in alcohol poisoning.

In short, even if a person gets drunk one time per year, this one-time "binge" can result in alcohol poisoning.

The effects of the alcohol on your body depend on the amount of alcohol in your blood (known as blood alcohol level or blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Factors that affect your blood alcohol level include the following:

How quickly you consume the alcoholic drink
How much alcohol you ingest
How strong the alcoholic drink is
How much food is in your stomach at the time you drink
How fast your body metabolizes the alcohol

Common Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

The first symptom of alcohol poisoning is usually nausea, followed by vomiting.

These symptoms are indications from your body letting you know that you ingested more alcohol than your body can metabolize.

The following list typifies other symptoms and signs of alcohol poisoning:

Unconsciousness (passing out)
Absent reflexes
Seizures
No withdrawal from painful stimuli (for instance from pinching)
Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
Confusion
Feeling very ill, including continuous or excessive vomiting
Difficulty awakening the person
Erratic behavior
Slurred speech
Slow, shallow, or irregular breathing
Inability to make eye contact or sustain a conversation

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The Interaction of Alcohol and Other Drugs

image: young man sleeping off effects of hangover It must be emphasized that alcohol can also be hazardous, can lead to an overdose, and can be fatal in smaller amounts if it is used in combination with the following drugs:

Narcotic pain medications (such as codine, codine derivatives, opium, heroin, and darvocet).
Sedatives (examples include barbiturates, tranquilizers, and cannabis).
Certain anti-seizure medications (such as phenobarbital).

In the early stage of alcoholism, drinking is no longer social but becomes a means of psychological escape from inhibitions, problems, and stress. Stated differently, early in the disease a person starts to depend on the mood altering capabilities of alcohol.

Alcohol Poisoning: Conclusion

Around 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year in the United States, and approximately once per week, someone needlessly dies from alcohol poisoning. Understanding the causes of alcohol poisoning and its symptoms and reacting quickly and properly to such circumstances can help avoid a fatal overdose.

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All depressed patients should be asked periodically about alcohol and drug use patterns throughout a course of treatment, and advised to abstain from alcohol and substance use. It is important to maximize the chance of long-term sobriety in patients with depression.

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If you are addicted to alcohol, part of your treatment may include regular attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. The AA recovery program is based on a spiritual framework that, along with support from other alcoholics, has helped millions of people attain sobriety.

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