Alcohol poisoning signs and symptoms

Drinking alcohol can be enjoyable in moderation, but excessive drinking can lead to dangerous and even deadly outcomes. Alcohol poisoning, a severe consequence of binge drinking, occurs when large quantities of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, overwhelming the body’s ability to process it. This can shut down critical functions in the brain, such as those that regulate breathing, heart rate, and body temperature, potentially leading to death.

Many people underestimate the risks of alcohol poisoning or fail to recognize its signs. Excessive alcohol use is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States, with more than 178,000 deaths attributed to it annually. Many adults believe they know the proper way to handle alcohol poisoning if it happens to someone around them but many incorrect methods can actually make the situation worse.

If you or someone you know has crossed the line on safe drinking there are things you can do to help. Keep reading to learn the in’s and out’s about alcohol poisoning and what steps you can take.

What is alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning, also referred to as an alcohol overdose, occurs when alcohol levels in the bloodstream become so high that the brain can no longer manage critical functions like breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. When these systems begin to shut down, the situation becomes life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

This condition is most commonly caused by drinking large amounts of alcohol—such as beer, wine, or liquor—over a short period of time. However, it can also result from consuming non-beverage alcohol sources like mouthwash, cough medicine, or cleaning products. Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion, vomiting, unconsciousness, seizures, slowed breathing, clammy skin, and dangerously low body temperature. If untreated, alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage or death.

The line between drinking to the point of impairment and drinking to the point of poisoning varies from person to person. Factors such as age, gender, alcohol tolerance, how quickly alcohol is consumed, medications, and whether food has been eaten all influence this threshold. Combining alcohol with other substances, such as opioids, sedatives, or even over-the-counter antihistamines, significantly heightens the risk of overdose. Mixing alcohol with opioid pain relievers like oxycodone or illicit drugs such as heroin is especially dangerous, as both suppress vital functions like breathing.

Understanding the risks and recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning can save lives. If you suspect someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, don’t hesitate—get medical help immediately.

Who is most at risk for alcohol poisoning?

Anyone who consumes a large amount of alcohol in a short period is at risk for alcohol poisoning, but certain patterns of drinking and specific groups are more vulnerable. Binge drinking and high-intensity drinking are the most common culprits. Binge drinking is defined as consuming enough alcohol to raise blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher—roughly five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women within two hours. High-intensity drinking goes beyond this, involving consumption of alcohol at levels twice or more the binge-drinking threshold. Both patterns can rapidly overwhelm the body’s ability to process alcohol, causing dangerous spikes in BAC that impair critical brain and bodily functions.

Teenagers and young adults are particularly susceptible to alcohol poisoning due to the prevalence of binge and high-intensity drinking within this age group. For many, social pressures and lack of experience with alcohol can lead to consuming excessive amounts in a short time, often without recognizing the risks. This rapid intake can overload the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, resulting in sharp increases in BAC that impair essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and coordination.

Recognizing signs of alcohol poisoning

Identifying alcohol poisoning isn’t always straightforward, especially in social settings where we may not know exactly how much someone has had to drink or how quickly they consumed it. The symptoms of alcohol poisoning can sometimes overlap with what people might dismiss as “typical drunken behavior.” However, these signs can signal a life-threatening situation and should never be ignored.

Even common signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech or stumbling, indicate that the brain is already impaired. At this point, continuing to drink or encouraging others to drink further only increases the risk of serious harm. Recognizing the progression of symptoms and acting quickly can save someone’s life.

Confusion or disorientation

Alcohol poisoning slows the brain’s ability to function, which is why symptoms like slurred speech, delayed reaction times, and loss of coordination occur. If someone seems confused, disoriented, or unable to walk or speak properly, they are already at risk of severe alcohol-related harm. These signs indicate that their body is struggling to process the alcohol they’ve consumed, and further drinking can push them into a dangerous overdose.

Trouble staying conscious

One of the most obvious and alarming signs of alcohol poisoning is difficulty staying awake or complete unconsciousness. If someone repeatedly drifts in and out of consciousness or cannot be roused at all, this is a critical warning sign. Never assume they will “sleep it off.” Leaving someone unattended in this condition could result in permanent brain damage or death. Immediate medical attention is required.

Changes in breathing

Alcohol poisoning can slow or suppress breathing, sometimes to life-threatening levels. If someone’s breathing becomes shallow, slow, or irregular, it’s a serious emergency. Breathing slower than eight breaths per minute or experiencing pauses of 10 seconds or more between breaths are red flags that require immediate intervention. If the person is unconscious and their breathing is labored or irregular, call 911 immediately.

Vomiting

Vomiting is a natural response when the body recognizes toxic levels of alcohol in the system, but it can also be extremely dangerous. If someone is unconscious or semi-conscious, they may choke on their vomit, leading to asphyxiation. Always monitor someone closely if they are vomiting after heavy drinking, especially if they are unable to sit up or stay alert.

Low body temperature and pale or clammy skin

Alcohol poisoning affects the body’s ability to regulate temperature, often causing hypothermia. Pale, blotchy, or clammy skin is a telltale sign that someone’s body is under extreme stress. Cold skin, coupled with a drop in body temperature, can lead to further complications, including heart or organ failure. These symptoms should not be ignored, as they can escalate quickly without treatment.

These symptoms are not just indications of someone being “too drunk.” They represent the body reaching its limit in processing alcohol, with vital systems beginning to shut down. Ignoring or dismissing these warning signs can result in permanent damage or death.

How you can help

If you notice that someone is experiencing symptoms of alcohol poisoning it’s important to immediately call 911. Even if the person is conscious, there is a likely chance that there is more alcohol in their stomach waiting to be processed, which will only increase the alcohol poisoning.

Stay with this person to make sure that they don’t accidentally harm themselves. After you call 911 you can continue to help by keeping the person awake and sitting. If they are able and corporative, try to get them to slowly drink water. Grabbing a blanket for them can also help if they are experiencing feeling cold.

Common things that people mistake as being helpful are putting the individual in a cold shower or trying to just let them “sleep it off”. Cold showers may increase the risk for hypothermia if their body temperature is already dropping. And simply telling them to sleep it off doesn’t take into account they may have more alcohol still left in their stomach.

Prevention is the best cure

We’ve all heard the old adage that ‘prevention is the best cure’ and in this case, it couldn’t be truer. Alcohol poisoning is not fun to experience or to watch some go through. And the only real way to avoid this is by drinking responsibly.

Pace yourself and don’t give in to peer pressure if others are encouraging you to drink. If you think that you or someone you love may have a binge drinking problem, contact us today to get some help.