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Alcohol Poisoning
Drinking more alcohol than your body can handle is very risky. If your not used to the effects of alcohol it's hard to judge how much is 'too much.' When you have consumed 'too much' alcohol it poisons your body.
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heart beat, and the gag reflex (prevents choking). A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body.
As a result the following can happen:
- victim chokes on own vomit
- breathing slows, becomes irregular, stops
- heart beats irregularly or stops
- hypothermia (low body temperature) leads to cardiac arrest
- hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to seizures
Even if the victim lives, it can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.
How to tell if someone has alcohol poisoning
- mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be roused
- no response to pinching the skin
- vomiting while sleeping
- seizures
- slow breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute)
- irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
- hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness
What to do:
If you suspect that someone may have ingested a fatal dose of alcohol, help is required immediately:
- Call 911
- Stay with the victim
- Keep the victim from choking on vomit
- Tell emergency medical technicians the symptoms and, if known, how much alcohol the victim drank.
Under Pressure?
Chances are one day you will be asked to try alcohol. It's best to plan your strategy in advance and have an answer prepared.
- Think of creative, effective ways you can say NO
- No thanks, I'm still a little partied out from last weekend
- Leave the door open for the future. "Not now, but maybe later..."
- Develop a signal with a friend for when it is time to go
- Create a disguise
- Make a drink that looks like it contains alcohol. For example, make a drink with tomato juice, lemonade, iced tea, water with ice cubes, tonic water with a wedge of lime, and either orange juice or 7-Up with grenadine (cherry juice). Chances are no one will ever know the difference but you.
Good friends won't stop being your friend just because you don't want to drink alcohol. If you feel this kind of pressure, talk to someone you trust.
How to tell if you or a friend has a drinking problem
If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:
- gets drunk on a regular basis
- drinks when he/she is alone
- shows up at school drunk or has skipped class to drink
- believes that alcohol is necessary to have fun
- drinks because of problems or to relax
- pressure others to drink
- starts hanging out with new friends who will drink with him/her or can score alcohol for him/her
- lies about drinking
- shows little interest in or quits sports or activities he/she once enjoyed
- has driven a car while drunk
- borrows or steals money to buy alcohol
- has broken plans with you, or showed up late, because he/she was getting drunk.
- has "blackouts"- forgets what they did while drinking
Even if your friend doesn't exactly fit any of these, but you feel like he/she is headed in the wrong direction, you can say something. You don't have to wait for it to get worse.
How to talk to a friend that has a drinking problem
- If you believe a friend has a drinking problem encourage them to stop drinking and seek professional help.
- Talking to a friend about their alcohol use isn't an easy thing to do. Many people
with alcohol or drug problems will defend their use or make excuses- it is hard for
them to admit to themselves that they have a problem. Don't let this stop you though.
Chances are that he/she will see that you're concerned.
- Here are some tips to keep in mind if you have to have the talk:
Think you or a friend has a problem with alcohol? Want to talk to a counselor? Try calling one of these hotlines. (open 24/7 and are totally confidential)
- Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health • Alcohol/Drug Helpline 1-877-664-2248
- National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information • 1-800-788-2800
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence • Hope Line: 800-NCA- CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration • 1-800-662-HELP
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